We long for a peaceful and just world. Shortly after the catastrophic event of 9/11, a beautiful poem of Judyth Hill’s circulated. All were invited to “Wage peace with your breath / breathe in fireman and rubble / breathe out whole buildings / and flocks of redwing black birds …” Challenging the violence then, Hill’s stanzas suggested countering violence: “Make soup … think of chaos as dancing raspberries, imagine grief as an outbreath of beauty … act as if armistice has already arrived. Celebrate today.” The simplest of acts create peace.
“What would a day of nonviolence look like?” challenges DePaul University professor Ken Butigan in a TEDxDePaul talk entitled Mainstreaming Nonviolence. Do we recognize glimpses of peace and justice in the world? Are we willing to intentionally, mindfully live the world into peace moment by moment? Daily? Ken highlights approaches enacted by individuals as they recognize that “Most of us have a secret history of violence in our own lives, in our own families, in our societies. We all want to lift the burden of violence and injustice from our shoulders and from everyone’s shoulders.” See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3AjjLsfzk
Let’s creatively grapple with, meditate with, pray to BE a healing presence in the world. Can you:
- Set aside a few minutes this week to truly enjoy something you love?
- Resolve to greet and establish relationship with one other person, someone you don’t know? A neighbor? A store clerk? A postal service worker? A person who lives in another part of town?
- Engage 1 daily practice (or more) in your home to contribute to Earth healing?
Let’s activate peace.
—Ann Jackson, PBVM, Prairiewoods spiritual services coordinator