Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Educating for the Wellbeing of Humanity
Reflections on Hope Flowers School, Bethlehem
Hope Flowers School and Ibrahim Issa make an outstanding contribution to the field of education for peace and the wellbeing of humanity. I have consistently found Hope Flowers to be ‘ahead of the curve’ and great innovators. In recent years, more people are talking about education for peace and training in non-violence. Ibrahim and the Hope Flowers School have been engaged in this for decades.
It was my privilege to meet Ibrahim Issa when he was still in his late twenties. I came away from that first meeting feeling that I had just been with a young man of immense wisdom who, given the right circumstances, could eventually have a global influence. Ibrahim has remained true to his values of peace with justice, even when these values lead to personal suffering. He has huge personal determination, which has seen him able to steer the school through unimaginably difficult times, whilst not compromising his integrity.
I believe the education, ethos and programmes at Hope Flowers School need to be disseminated widely. On many visits to the school, usually taking visitors and colleagues, each one has come away deeply impressed by the atmosphere at the school, the ethos, and the wisdom and integrity of Ibrahim and the staff. To create such a vibrant, warm and hospitable environment amongst students, staff, and the leaders of the school is a huge achievement, given the difficulties and trauma faced by the children, staff and local community. This atmosphere is conducive to the wellbeing and healing of the students as well as their ability to learn.
It would be hard to overstate the influence Ibrahim has had on audiences here, both in terms of the recognition of him as a person and what is being achieved through the Hope Flowers School and Trauma Healing Programmes. On many occasions, UK schools have wished to learn more from Ibrahim and his experience, as well as to share their own learning.
On a visit with Ibrahim to the London based Institute of Education, now named the University College of London's Faculty of Education and Society, educators there were deeply impressed by the work of Hope Flowers School. They expressed a desire to learn from Hope Flowers methodology and programmes on future visits by Ibrahim, and to implement such measures here. This has been echoed in many other education establishments we visited.
It should be clear from what I have said above that the education, methodology and trauma healing programmes developed at Hope Flowers are widely acknowledged by educators in the UK to be innovative and valuable. The fact that Hope Flowers School and Ibrahim have long term supporters in the UK, more widely in Europe, and the USA, including educators, demonstrates the value and wider possibilities for implementation of the Hope Flowers methodologies.
I hope what I have written will encourage you to come to one of the events with Ibrahim and even become a member of the team which is supporting Hope Flowers School long term.
Heather-Jane Ozanne
CEO Spirit of Peace
The Flame of Hope
Can hope guide and inspire us towards a better future, in these dark and troubled times?
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision.”
- Pope Francis, Jubilee letter, 11th February 2022
When I think or write about hope I am always reminded of the words of Daniel Berrigan “If you want to be hopeful, you need to do hopeful things”. For me, hope and hopeful actions feed each other. Having a feeling of hope can inspire us to do hopeful things, and carrying out those hopeful actions, however small or large, nourishes our sense of hope.
There is another correlation, not often talked about, that I experience: heaviness and hope. All too often, when listening to peoples’ stories or the news, or in trying as best I can to support people facing terrible circumstances, I have come away with a heavy heart. Yet this heaviness, when accepted and not shied away from, can also be a well-spring of action and hope.
Our recent series of musical and arts community events, “From Lament to Hope” is illustrative of this. Sharing our lamentations, both spoken and in unspoken ways, for many helped to release some of the heaviness which can tend to immobilise us, and led many of us to a place of renewed hope, vigor and action. Many of us committed to new actions and visions for the future.
So, I would heartily suggest that amidst these turbulent times, heaviness and hope, lamentation and hopeful actions, can intermingle to guide our feet towards a path of peace and flourishing, especially when we are able to share these with others, as in our recent events.
Heather-Jane Ozanne
Photo by Tyler Mower on Unsplash
Finding hope in turbulent times
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow” – attributed to Audrey Hepburn
You will see from the rest of this newsletter that we have a number of upcoming events which will address the theme of lamentation, leading to hope, and finding hope in turbulent times. Here are two favourite quotations about hope which I have found helpful.
“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” -Václav Havel, former president of the Czech Republic, in Disturbing the Peace (1986)
“To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness. What we choose to emphasise in this complex history will determine our lives.
If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places - and there are so many — where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us the energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.
And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvellous victory."
- Howard Zinn, historian, author, professor, playwright and activist
I hope you will find inspiration and motivation in these quotations, as I do.
Heather-Jane Ozanne
Photo by Andres F. Uran on Unsplash
Finding light in difficult times
“…the place inside
which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.”
- Rashani
My last reflection was on love, lament and longing, which will be the theme of our upcoming Arts and the Intersection programme of events inspired by Interfaith Harmony Week. Recognising that so many people are finding both the situation in the world and closer to home a cause for despair, I would like to offer the following poem by Rashani (https://www.rashani.com/arts/poems/poems-by-rashani).
I believe that it points to the unbreakable strength and joy which resides in all of us, beyond life’s difficulties and our despondency. It’s not an easy place to find, and takes work. However, if we believe it is there, and find ways to look for it, both individually and together, we can find the place which is unbreakable and whole. This is the place that we hope we can touch in our upcoming events.
The Unbroken
There is a brokenness
out of which comes the unbroken,
a shatteredness
out of which blooms the unshatterable.
There is a sorrow
beyond all grief which leads to joy
and a fragility
out of whose depths emerges strength.
There is a hollow space
too vast for words
through which we pass with each loss,
out of whose darkness
we are sanctioned into being.
There is a cry deeper than all sound
whose serrated edges cut the heart
as we break open to the place inside
which is unbreakable and whole,
while learning to sing.
- Rashani
In the light of the above, I wish you deep peace and great joy.
Heather-Jane
You can find Rashani’s work at www.rashani.com
Photo by Andres F. Uran on Unsplash
Love, Lament and Longing
“Lamentations are a form of prayer. They are expressions of grief, ways of working through difficult feelings and in particular rage that things are not otherwise. Lamentations have a dangerous edge, for they awaken inner strength and open the heart up for cathartic transformation because by giving a sound, a public expression to grief they allow for it to be held by a wider community.” – Eleanor Chiari
Many people are feeling an overwhelming sense of pain, grief and anger at the terrible wars and injustices in our world. Sometimes, the depth of our feelings can lead to a numbness and sense of helplessness. Recently, while still working to support peace and flourishing in the world, and particularly the Middle East, I started to feel numb, and inured in the face of all that I had been reading about or hearing from our partners. This sense of numbness bothered me, as working from a heart-centered place is central to our work in Spirit of Peace, and not feeling a conscious connection was disturbing me.
What moved me on to reconnect was a service I attended, led by Eleanor Chiari, who is quoted above. A public ritual expressing lamentation helped move the stuck energy inside me. As Eleanor went on to say, “Unlike grief, that is personal and stays deep in the heart and in the body of the bereaved, lamentation is shared.” Being able to share in this way unlocks feelings which may be buried too deeply to be recognised. Once our feelings are again unfettered, we can feel compassion, longing, and the love in our hearts, and these can move us and direct us into the actions we would like to take.
In Spirit of Peace, we are now beginning to plan our next programme for Interfaith Harmony Week. We will be focusing on lament, longing, and love – moving from lament towards love, and all that love may be asking of us in the current time. As Eleanor also says, “this is where community can help because it allows us a ritual space to lament the terrible losses that are occurring…”
Recognising our feelings and allowing them is also part of our Flourishing Process, because it helps to point us to our values and the actions we would like to take. You can read about our Flourishing Process here: https://flourishing.global/about-us/
Lament, longing and love are intimately related. Without love, we would have less need for lament, and longing is often an integral part of love. So as the days shorten, and we become more aware of darkness, may we also be aware of the light and love which will ultimately never be dimmed.
Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash
Threads of Connection
“I am done with great things and big things, great institutions and big success, and I am for those tiny, invisible molecular moral forces that work from individual to individual, creeping through the crannies of the world like so many rootlets, or like the capillary oozing of water, yet which if you give them time, will rend the hardest monuments of man's* pride.” - William James
*(hu)man’s
Although the above quotation perhaps does not use the most politically correct language (hence adding the hu), it does lend strength to my belief and experience that small steps can lead to big change. Those small interactions between people, from the ground up, can form the basis of larger change in society.
We can be bombarded by daily news cycles focussing on the many crises our world and our locality are facing. Yet time and time again what can save us are small acts of kindness and the bonds of human caring, creativity and belonging.
Creating and sustaining these bonds of connection with each other, with nature and the global community of all life can both be an answer to the problems facing us and serve as an antidote to the gloom which threatens to engulf us. In these times of ‘polycrisis’, escalating world tensions and war, what can help?
Being more deeply connected can be of crucial importance in staying sane and freeing us from growing anxiety and feelings of disempowerment. In recent Spirit of Peace programmes, a comment which has frequently been made is that events have enabled people to feel nurtured and connected, and this has created hope and stimulated greater engagement with issues both local and global. People have also been inspired by the growth of local partnerships which Spirit of Peace has been able to stimulate and sustain.
Our ongoing community partnerships and programmes are all aimed at creating "societal connective tissue" enabling work together for the common good.
These bonds of friendship, nurture and goodwill can form ‘connective tissue’ in society. In Spirit of Peace our Pathways for Human Flourishing training helps us to develop the skills to become ‘societal connective tissue’. In the body connective tissue supports the organs, provides a framework, connects all kind of tissue and delivers nutrients. In our communities this training can help us become artisans of positive connection and peaceful change, leading to a world oriented towards the common good rather than unbridled individualism, extremism and unhealthy controlling interests.
This is especially of importance in a world where there is increasing polarisation and rising extremism as disconnection leads to disturbance, imbalance and conflict. My experience in working in residential social work, visiting the Corrymeela community and the book “DisConnected” by psychologist Steve Taylor all highlight this. Individuals or groups who feel excluded and disconnected often resort to extreme behaviour.
**“DisConnected offers a new vision of human nature and a new understanding of human behaviour and social problems. Connection is the most essential human trait - it determines our behaviour and our level of well-being. Cruelty is the result of a sense of disconnection, while “goodness” stems from connection.” (paperback book synopsis on Amazon)
Small steps for change:
Think of how we might be feeling disconnected - what can we do to change this – perhaps spend time in nature and prioritising time spent nurturing connections with friends, family, local and global community.
Think about how others might be feeling – are there ways we might be able to help? Is there someone, possibly a bit out of our normal comfort zone we could share a coffee or tea with? Can we take some small step of recognition and friendship towards a person, group or community who are slightly outside of our comfort zone?
From all the above, it seems clear to me that for a world of flourishing for all, we need to create and sustain connections with each other and the whole community of life on our beautiful blue planet.
References
**Taylor, Steve. DisConnected: The Roots of Human Cruelty and How Connection Can Heal the World. Iff Books, Reprint edition 2023.
“In his powerful new book, Steve Taylor sets out clearly how hyper-disconnected people are responsible for a large proportion of the brutality and suffering which has filled human history.” – Ian Hughes
You can purchase it through this link: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/disconnected-the-roots-of-human-cruelty-and-how-connection-can-heal-the-world-steve-taylor/7230330?aid=7587&ean=9781803410302&
Tea, Hope and Positive Peacebuilding
“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” Mother Teresa
We are living in times of great uncertainty and insecurity and it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed with the challenges facing humanity as a whole and our local communities. In recent years I have met many people who have become so despondent that it has caused them to retreat into themselves and participate less in local or global issues.
However, I have always believed in the power of small steps that can lead to significant change. In fact, one of our strap lines has been ‘Person to Person for Peace’. I am put in mind of the tours we have undertaken with our peacemaker colleagues from Israel and Palestine. These were inspirational but exhausting! Many times I would arrive at a venue barely able to speak and struggling with pain. Yet again and again we were welcomed with warmth and a cup of tea proffered with great kindness. This was amazingly revivifying and I often told myself I would like to write an ode to tea-makers!
During a Spirit of Peace training weekend on Kingian nonviolence, expertly delivered by Dr Yehoeshahfaht Ben Israel, he commented that the gentle manner in which he had been offered and given tea demonstrated peace and left him with a good feeling. The manner in which small acts are carried out can be a part of positive peace-building in our communities and should not be underestimated. There is a commonly used phrase ‘it’s the little things” and I think that this points to a truth – that little things can have large consequences.
Another very clear demonstration of this was my experience at the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland. At the time I visited there was a rule that if you were sitting at a table for a meal, you would always welcome and include in conversation anyone else who came to eat at that table, even if previously involved in a ‘private’ conversation. This small act made an enormous difference, leading to a feeling of great inclusivity – that everyone mattered and belonged. This shift in the attention and consciousness around how we eat together fostered a great sense of wholeness and love. How important this is especially in these days when so many people in the Western world live alone. At Corrymeela they had learned that feeling excluded leads to all sorts of dysfunction and even violence.
At a recent conference, during the final meal I went over to some much younger people to thank them for their amazing contribution but turned to walk away quite quickly thinking they wouldn’t want to talk to someone from another generation. However, they immediately invited me to sit down with them, and this has left me with a deep and warm glow – their actions demonstrated their desire to give birth to a better and more inclusive world.
We can all make a contribution to building a future of peace and flourishing through everyday acts carried out with kindness and love rather than a practicality which is only perfunctory. Never underestimate the value of small things given with great love.
And whilst I cannot finish this post with my as yet unwritten Ode to Tea makers, writing this has reminded me of some apposite quotes from Mother Teresa:
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.”
I am so grateful for those who have offered me hospitality in a loving way, especially in difficult times. At Spirit of Peace we would love to hear of your own experiences of the difference that loving hospitality has made to you, so do feel free to send them in if you would like to share them.
Heather-Jane
Music and arts as conveyors of truth
''The arts offer peace builders unique tools for transforming intractable interpersonal, intercommunal, national, and global conflicts – tools that are not currently prevalent or available within the peace building field.” - Michael Shank, George Mason University
“When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the areas of man’s concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses. For art establishes the basic human truth which must serve as the touchstone for our judgement.”-President John F. Kennedy
Culture and the Arts can be an important part of creating dialogue, sustaining peace, giving people a voice and allowing them to flourish. The Arts offer powerful tools to create the inner shifts in awareness which render people more able to 'embrace' the other. They can play an important part in creating and sustaining community cohesion and a culture of flourishing.
In February, we completed our Tree of Life tour, using music and the Arts to bring people together in the face of the conflict in Israel/Palestine. Here is a quotation from one of our events:
“The evening included hauntingly beautiful singing, accompanied by violins, and stories from the group “Arts at the Intersection” and their special guest Hanna Yaffe, the Jewish storyteller and singer from Jerusalem.” – Tree of Life event description by Jim Corrigall in Unitarian magazine (our hauntingly beautiful music was performed by Isabel and Madeline de Berrie)
In our experience, we find that using Arts, especially in time of difficulty, can help people towards a recognition of a truth that is sometimes lost in times of conflict. It can point us towards the deeper aspects of our common humanity. Rodef Shalom Eliyahu McLean tells a story about a meeting in the Holy Land between Imams and Rabbis. They reached a sticking point where there was a breakdown in discussions. Then, someone started to sing a song which was precious to both sides and the atmosphere changed and softened, pointing people to something which they deeply shared, and this enabled the discussions to restart. Truth cannot be grasped by thoughts alone or words alone, and the arts can lead us into our hearts, where there is often a deeper knowing.
During our tour, which faced difficult issues around the conflict in the Middle East, many people expressed that they felt nurtured by the events, and therefore able to re-engage, whereas previously feelings of disillusionment and a feeling of despair had caused disengagement. This was in part due to the unifying message brought by Sheikh Ghassan Manasra and the use of music, storytelling, and creative arts.
Artists are in a powerful position to bring people together and inspire them to positive action. They can provide a lens through which we can look at, understand and engage with the world. Culture and the Arts are fundamental to human wellbeing. Both for the individual and communities as a whole: “Art is not a particular object but rather the creative process–the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others.” (Britannica Online.)
I would like to close by asking if there are images, prayers, poems, etc. which are inspirational or enlightening for you. You may like to make a collection of them to nurture yourself, especially in times of fatigue and difficulty. If you would like to share them, please feel free to send them to Spirit of Peace so that they can be shared more widely, if appropriate, to inspire others. Sharing in this way enables us all to help to foster peace.
Please see below further quotations from the Tree of Life Tour, illustrating the aspect of human creative activity and arts, which enables us to flourish.
‘I loved watching you draw your tree – it was lovely, watching it come to life out of the charcoal’
‘I haven’t drawn anything for years and wasn’t convinced I could do it, but really enjoyed the process, thank you’
‘It was lovely to be able to pick up pencils and pastels and spend a few minutes being creative”
‘How nice to have a creative activity!’
‘I loved the idea of writing a message on the leaf to put on the tree’
‘The programme was wonderful, really interesting, and I really enjoyed the interactive creative element’
Shalom, salaam, peace,
Heather-Jane
Catriona Alderton (artist) and Vicki Burke (musician) in front of a Tree of Life with peace messages
Hope and Nurture, not Hate
We are pleased to have been able to complete our Tree of Life tour, especially as we made a late pivot, when we learned the wonderful news that Sheikh Ghassan would be able to tour with us in person, rather than online. The tree of life symbol proved to be a very good symbol for us, with its world-wide recognition, in religions and indigenous traditions, as representing a universal force which connects us all. Indeed this was the import of Sheikh Ghassan’s talks, that we must recognise the life force which connects us all, and nurture it within ourselves. This will enable us to be channels of harmony, rather than disunity, even in the face of the most difficult and dreadful conflict and circumstances.
The headline photo accompanying this page is one of the Tree of Life images, with people’s leaves of hope, from one of our events. This artwork was organised by our team member, art counsellor Catriona Alderton.
The most frequently heard comments at our events were that people had felt nurtured and inspired to hope by them. Hope and feeling nurtured help people to overcome despair and re-engage with the critical issues of our time and allow for a change in perception. I have written about the many aspects of hope in these reflections on previous occasions. The tour highlighted an important link: that when people feel nurtured, it can renew hope, even in the most troublesome and wearying times. This to my mind is one of the great gifts that bringing the arts into the arena of building a better future and peace-building can give. Not only can they nurture us, but they can reach parts of ourselves that have shut down in the face of the onslaughts of life, and encourage new growth, in the way in which feeding plants helps them to bloom and flourish.
Those who have known me for a long time may have heard me say that building peace isn’t always soft and fluffy. The following poem demonstrates this same aspect of hope.
bare bones.
hope is not always soft and lovely.
she is not always cascading rivers
and sunlit skies, dancing. hope knows
there is work to be done. there are
roads to be traveled. turns to be made.
she is bare bones and deep waters.
she is weary and weak. she is barely
a glimmer. she shakes when she speaks.
this is where hope lives. smothered in
sweat. full of war. and on the verge
of crumbling into the sea.
yet there she is, quietly breathing.
ullie-kaye
https://www.facebook.com/UllieKaye
Shalom, salaam, peace,
Heather-Jane
December 2023: Beauty, Truth and Love
A few weeks ago, I was privileged to be able to take part in a vigil for peace, organised by the Abrahamic Reunion. What follows below is a version of what I said. Very conscious that people on the vigil would be feeling devastated by events in Israel and Palestine, I wanted to say something that might help us in these circumstances. My recourse was to beauty, truth and love.
Truth
Some years ago, I had a conversation with a BBC programme producer, who told me that in his experience "truth is the first casualty of the court and judicial system". I also witnessed this as a social worker when I frequently had to attend local and high courts. Now there is often an assumption that we can arrive at the truth by competing, often aggressively, for our understanding or version of the truth to be taken as “the truth.” However, this kind of adversarial argument does not always lead to the truth but to the silencing of the person who loses the argument. In war, truth is often an early casualty and hard to come by.
As people of peace, we need to avoid falling into this trap of competing truths. We need to listen to each other’s understanding of the truth, research where we can and recognise that in war and conflict, we very rarely know the full truth. We need to be very careful and discerning, and have wisdom in what we take to be the truth, and where we seek the truth. Reading and listening to many different perspectives can help us to gain understanding and then discern what our actions should be.
Beauty
In times of devastation and heartbreak, it can be hard to find healing for our sore hearts and exhausted bodies. We can even feel guilty about seeking such a salve. However, if we are to be able to function as people who desire peace and flourishing for all peoples, we do need to strengthen ourselves. Beauty can be something which brings about at least some degree of peace, and eventually contributes to the healing of the deep trauma we carry. Often at times like these music, nature, poetry, and the beauty in each other’s hearts can bring us the strength to continue in the face of devastation, trauma and despair.
Love
There are many different kinds of love, from the kind of hearts and flowers of Valentine’s Day to the love encapsulated in the phrase ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who harm you’. In the times we are facing now, it is important to find the love that is in our deeper hearts - not just emotional love, but a spiritual love which can unite us all. I often find that poetry and prayer can take me to this place, so here I would like to offer a poem by John O'Donohue.
FOR PEACE
As the fever of day calms towards twilight
May all that is strained in us come to ease.
We pray for all who suffered violence today,
May an unexpected serenity surprise them.
For those who risk their lives each day for peace,
May their hearts glimpse providence at the heart of history.
That those who make riches from violence and war
Might hear in their dreams the cries of the lost.
That we might see through our fear of each other
A new vision to heal our fatal attraction to aggression.
That those who enjoy the privilege of peace
Might not forget their tormented brothers and sisters.
That the wolf might lie down with the lamb,
That our swords be beaten into ploughshares
And no hurt or harm be done
Anywhere along the holy mountain.
- John O'Donohue, Irish poet and philosopher
From the book, Benedictus
--
Shalom, Salaam, Peace
Heather-Jane
November 2023: Pom-pom Making and a World Waiting to be Born
Our hopes can be enacted,
Our light can shine,
Our love can radiate -
So just take heart,
Take your courage in both hands,
And dare to forge the world anew.
- David Lorimer, from the poem Christmas Sun, in his book Better Light a Candle*
A couple of weeks ago I was rushing to catch a train, and didn’t quite have time to finish the pom-pom my beautiful eldest granddaughter and I were making. As my son drove us both to the station, I tried to finish the pom-pom in the dark.
Sadly, as I got out of the car, I realised something had gone wrong and all the threads we had woven and cut had come apart. A few days later I received the above photo.
On reflection, this seemed to be a metaphor of the situation we are facing in the world today. So much of what generations have carefully (or not!) tried to craft in the order of things is coming undone in the darkness which is engulfing our world. Perhaps from within the multiple crises facing us globally, we can seek to offer threads to future generations to craft something different, even beyond our current imagining. Can we leave them valuable threads from which they can create a beautiful world, just as my granddaughter created something different, not a pom-pom but a collage out of the threads she had saved?
So, I ask myself at this time in human history, are there threads (understanding, skills, attitudes, hope etc.) which we can begin or continue to weave and leave for future generations to ‘build back better’? Our quest and ‘cri de cœur’ is for a world where all can flourish. As always in Spirit of Peace, we wrestle to discern ‘what is ours to do, what is mine to do’. In the words of David Lorimer, can we "dare to forge the world anew"?
Yours in peace and hope,
Heather-Jane
*David Lorimer's book Better Light a Candle is available at the following links:
Ebook: https://www.lulu.com/shop/david-lorimer/better-light-a-candle/ebook/product-ry4yv5.html?q=David+Lorimer+Better+Light+a+Candle&%3Bpage=1&%3BpageSize=4&page=1&pageSize=4&redirect_uri=https://www.lulu.com/shop/david-lorimer/better-light-a-candle/ebook/product-ry4yv5.html?q=David+Lorimer+Better+Light+a+Candle&%3Bpage=1&%3BpageSize=4&page=1&pageSize=4
Printed book: https://www.lulu.com/shop/david-lorimer/better-light-a-candle/paperback/product-
jrm99j.html?q=David+Lorimer+Better+Light+a+Candle&page=1&pageSize=4
Human Responsibilities and Human Rights
"Given the concurrent turmoil and potential of our current times, the time is ripe for a renewed global dialogue about a common declaration of human responsibilities."
Sue L. T. McGregor
"It is not enough to 'have' human rights. It is essential to know them as a way of life."
Shulamith Koening
Whilst we recognise that in some parts of the world, very few, if any, human rights are being upheld, in other areas, it could be that there is an over-emphasis on "my rights" without regard for obligations or responsibilities to others. This is having unfortunate consequences, such as turning many people away from the idea of rights and the focus on one group's rights whilst not respecting the rights of other groups. I believe that human rights and human responsibilities need to be linked, in order to produce a more equitable balance of fairness, which in turn can lead to peace and harmony.
Human Rights: On 10th December 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was announced by the General Assembly of The United Nations. It outlined 30 rights and freedoms belonging to all people. They continue to form the foundation of international human rights law. Human Rights are relevant to all of us, not just those who face repression or mistreatment. They form a framework for fair and equal relationships and protect us in many aspects of life, supporting freedoms including: the right to privacy, the ability to express opinions, the right not to be mistreated or wrongly punished by the state.
Human Responsibilities:
"Anyone who is interested in seeing human rights fully respected and more effectively defended throughout the world must surely also be interested in achieving a change of consciousness concerning human obligations or responsibilities." Hans Kung.
Since the late 1990s, the possibility of a Universal Declaration of Human Responsibilities has been envisioned, which would provide the basis for a global ethic. Article 4 of the original UNESCO declaration states:
"All human beings endowed with reason and conscience, should act towards one another in a spirit of sisterhood/brotherhood. Therefore, there should be applied to all human beings both individuals and groups, including among others’ families, communities, races, nations, and religions, the longstanding principle of so many ethical and religious traditions: What you do not wish done to yourself, do not do to others."
Perhaps it's time to ask: what is the appropriate balance between rights and responsibilities? Has an over-focus on human rights led to a lack of focus on human obligations? How can we create a better balance between the two?
An Animating Vision
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Howard Thurman
We are facing times of great insecurity, and many people are feeling overwhelmed. In times of difficulty and disquiet as well as in times of wellbeing, an animating vision can be a source of great strength, courage and discernment.
My animating vision was forged in my childhood through a mixture of difficult circumstances, which opened my eyes to the suffering around me, and drew on my interest in different cultures and longing for the well-being of all.
As a child I was also inspired by writings from the Hebrew prophets with their emphasis on peace and justice. Two of them are:
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore (from the book of Isaiah)
But each one shall sit under their vine and under their fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid… (from the book of Micah)
Both these link humanity and planet earth through their imagery, and I find them particularly moving. It is this sense of heartfelt motivation which I would like to guide all my actions, asking of myself ‘what is mine to do?’. In Spirit of Peace, we ask, ‘what is ours to do?’, especially as in the UK and globally we are facing a time of growing disillusionment, ecological disaster and polarisation.
In the Thurman quote above, we see that an antidote to the despair and sometimes overwhelm we can feel is to be in touch with that which makes us feel truly alive. We can see what makes us feel truly alive as part of our calling, and feeling truly alive enables us to take action.
“There is no greater gift you can give or receive than to honor your calling. It is why you were born and how you become most truly alive.” – Oprah Winfrey
As we are living in such challenging and changing times, it is good to reflect on one’s core values, beliefs and hopes. I know that living in tune with my values and hopes for a world where all can flourish is a huge motivation for me.
A helpful practice might be to reflect and write a vision statement based on hopes and our visions for our lives and the future world we wish to contribute to. This can give us an injection of positivity, rather than the despair so many are feeling. Reminding ourselves of who we deeply are can fortify us in the face of challenges, and create a sense of wellbeing.
Reflective practice: "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." – Rumi
You may like to spend some time reflecting on your hopes of the future, and write a vision statement based on your hopes and vision for your life, and the future of the world, and any contribution you would like to make.
Living for the Whole: A Concept for our Times
"We are not just citizens of one nation or another, but of the human and cosmic community.”
—Barbara Holmes
In Spirit of Peace we are working with the idea of “living for the whole” and its importance in creating a just and sustainable future for all life on planet Earth. In many ways "living for the whole" or "life for the whole" is not a new idea and has been expressed in many traditions in different terms. The essence of many religious and spiritual traditions and creation narratives is love for your neighbour and care for the earth.
At surface level we are separate beings but beneath this we are more deeply connected than is often imagined. Even though we may not recognise it, our decisions, thoughts and actions impact the world around us in ways we don't always understand or realise.
“You could not remove a single grain of sand from its place without thereby…changing something throughout all parts of the immeasurable whole.” Johann Gottlieb Fichte, The Vocation of Man
Living for the whole means educating ourselves and taking a look at the big picture to make effective change and asking ourselves important questions about how our actions may affect not just ourselves but our neighbours, our communities and the planet. The circumstances of our world can feel overwhelming and this can cause people to deny or close their minds to the bigger picture. We need to shift into the consciousness of 'living for the whole’ to address the grievous and urgent imbalances and injustices we face. We need to remain hopeful and take positive actions in the light of the many catastrophes and conflicts.
The idea of living for the whole may seem overwhelming. However, if we can at least hold the thought in our minds, it can gradually help us do things differently, little by little, step by step.
For Earth and Human flourishing for all to become a reality, living for the whole needs to become a core value for humanity and in this way huge and urgent change can happen.
Our choices matter! Especially if we want to follow Gandhi's advice to "Be the change you wish to see".
From the Dalai Lama:
“I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.”
Friends for Peace and Global Flourishing
'With every true friendship we build more firmly the foundations on which the peace of the whole world rests' - Mahatma Gandhi
Dear friends,
The above quotation has been important in Spirit of Peace from the very beginning. During my recent visit to our partners in Israel and Palestine, the truth of these words impressed themselves again deeply in my heart.
Owing to the pandemic, I had not met with some of our friends and partners face to face for over four years. The world has changed rapidly in that time and continues to do so, and the conversations that took place were deeper than ever before. There was a realisation that these friendships and networks, linking us across the globe, were more important than ever if we are to make an impact and build a world of flourishing and peace.
In our latest project Flourishing.Global we are exploring the concept of what it might mean to 'live for the whole' and I think that there is a clue in Gandhi's writing. He mentions that the peace of the whole world depends on 'every true friendship'. This is especially important in these days where the very notion of truth is being questioned and it seems to be common to talk about 'my truth' and 'your truth.' Individual perceptions have become more important, and there seems to be little agreement even on basic facts.
In a climate such as this our true and authentic friendships become a refuge and resting place in the ever changing landscape of polarisation and urgent crises which are escalating on a global scale.
One of the aspects of authentic friendship can be deep and transformative conversation. It is in these conversations that we can share our concerns and anxieties about our lives and the wider world and draw strength and support from one another. It is often through such conversations that the 'best next step' to take emerges.
These conversations which can be both comforting and transformative are also related to our work in our Pathways for Human Flourishing Programme, as Transforming Conversations is one of our pathways.
So, in these times it is more important than ever to nurture our friendships, which can strengthen us for the road ahead, and in Gandhi's terms, create a little peace. As we all experience more peace in our lives, this can contribute to a more peaceful world.
I will finish with a quotation about friendship from poet, author and leadership consultant David Whyte (who also writes about "Change through Courageous conversation"!).
"The dynamic of friendship is almost always underestimated as a constant force in human life." - David Whyte
Friends for Peace and Global Flourishing
'With every true friendship we build more firmly the foundations on which the peace of the whole world rests' - Mahatma Gandhi
Dear friends,
The above quotation has been important in Spirit of Peace from the very beginning. During my recent visit to our partners in Israel and Palestine, the truth of these words impressed themselves again deeply in my heart.
Owing to the pandemic, I had not met with some of our friends and partners face to face for over four years. The world has changed rapidly in that time and continues to do so, and the conversations that took place were deeper than ever before. There was a realisation that these friendships and networks, linking us across the globe, were more important than ever if we are to make an impact and build a world of flourishing and peace.
In our latest project Flourishing.Global we are exploring the concept of what it might mean to 'live for the whole' and I think that there is a clue in Gandhi's writing. He mentions that the peace of the whole world depends on 'every true friendship'. This is especially important in these days where the very notion of truth is being questioned and it seems to be common to talk about 'my truth' and 'your truth.' Individual perceptions have become more important, and there seems to be little agreement even on basic facts.
In a climate such as this our true and authentic friendships become a refuge and resting place in the ever changing landscape of polarisation and urgent crises which are escalating on a global scale.
One of the aspects of authentic friendship can be deep and transformative conversation. It is in these conversations that we can share our concerns and anxieties about our lives and the wider world and draw strength and support from one another. It is often through such conversations that the 'best next step' to take emerges.
These conversations which can be both comforting and transformative are also related to our work in our Pathways for Human Flourishing Programme, as Transforming Conversations is one of our pathways.
So, in these times it is more important than ever to nurture our friendships, which can strengthen us for the road ahead, and in Gandhi's terms, create a little peace. As we all experience more peace in our lives, this can contribute to a more peaceful world.
I will finish with a quotation about friendship from poet, author and leadership consultant David Whyte (who also writes about "Change through Courageous conversation"!).
"The dynamic of friendship is almost always underestimated as a constant force in human life." - David Whyte
Courageous Conversations
“One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever. ” –Linda Lambert
We are living in a time of great divisions and hugely polarised political disagreements. These disagreements are not just about ideology and policies, but also about the facts, including regarding the Global pandemic, climate change and migration with no real debate or conversation. Real and heartfelt conversation includes both listening to self and the other and being open to change.
During the time of the pandemic many people have found themselves entering more deeply into conversation with others, whilst others have sought only to express strong opinions, often built on misinformation and anxiety and are unable to listen to any view that doesn’t co-incide with their own. In many ways the quality of our lives in recent months has depended on the quality of our conversations and the way in which we connect with others through them. For many, the ability to hold meaningful and connecting conversations with others, in person or online has been a lifesaver. From these conversations I am sensing that there is a real hope for change.
Some time ago I listened to a CD by poet David Whyte, called ‘Life at the Frontier – Leadership Through Courageous Conversation. David Whyte suggests that courageous conversation is necessary for effective leadership. If we find ourselves, or plan to be, on the frontier of change in our own lives or in society then we need to be leaders to ourselves. We can give ourselves self-leadership through stilling ourselves enough to listen to what our hearts are telling us and holding listening and heartfelt conversations with others.
What sort of conversation do I mean? How can a conversation be creative and transforming rather than upholding the status quo or taking us down an oft – repeated track? And what would make it a courageous conversation? David Whyte suggests that it needs to be a courageous conversation.
'Courage' comes from the French word coeur or heart, and 'conversation' has in the roots of it’s meaning; "act of living with”, "to keep company with," literally to "turn about with" and to share intimately.
So a courageous conversation might be heartfelt, one that is fundamental to the way we feel and think. It often takes courage to uncover what is truly in our hearts, beyond our solely rational, logical opinions. When this heart-led conversation involves others, it means seeing “the other” not as opponents who must be won over, or valued only as recipients of our opinions. Rather they are companions on a voyage of discovery sharing or ‘living intimately with us' in conversation, with a sense of mutual learning and deep respect.
When we are courageous but also sensitive in our conversations it can deepen our relationships and improve the whole quality of our lives and connection with others.
Soon, pandemic permitting, we will be gathering with others, friends, families and colleagues, to celebrate the festive season. I wish you all many heart-warming and transforming conversations!
Living for the Whole Because We Are Part of the Whole!
“When the murmur of the ocean is stilled and the tides move stealthily along the shore, I held my breath against the night and watched the stars etch their brightness on the face of the darkened canopy of the heavens. I had the sense that all things, the sand, the sea, the stars, the night, and I were one lung through which all of life breathed. Not only was I aware of a vast rhythm enveloping all, but I was a part of it and it was a part of me.” Howard Thurman
Artwork on the right by kind permission of David Arathoon https://www.davidarathoonstudio.com
Recently, I was reading about the journey of a climber in the Himalayas. I was very struck with a comment he made. He spent some time contemplating at one of the camps in the foothills, just staring at the mountain range. After a time, he had a sense that he was breathing one breath with the mountains. This is not a rare experience, many people who take the time to stop and stare report a similar sense of breathing with the one breath of the universe, of the whole. In religious terms, the mystic Hildegard von Bingen is known for her understanding “Prayer is nothing but inhaling and exhaling the one breath of the universe”.
In recent decades, the world has been subject to a process of globalisation. The world seems smaller than ever before, with travel having become easier (pre-pandemic!) and the internet bringing people together in ways which were not possible even a few years ago. At the same time and especially during the pandemic there is a growing understanding that we cannot separate ourselves from the rest of the world. We are realising that our actions have consequences way beyond our own lives and communities. Living with a consciousness of this and working for the common good is becoming a greater imperative because we are part of the whole and our actions matter.
The scale of problems the world is facing can seem overwhelming but we can take heart from the following words of an African proverb “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.” The idea that we cannot influence the whole is not true as the quote below from American historian, philosopher and political writer Howard Zin demonstrates. I would like to finish by quoting his hopeful message:
“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can quietly become a power no government can suppress, a power that can transform the world.” Howard Zin
Further Thoughts on “Living for the Whole”
In the last newsletter I introduced the idea of living for the whole and its importance in creating a just and sustainable future for all life on planet Earth. In many ways "living for the whole" or "life for the whole" is not a completely new idea and has been expressed in many traditions in different terms. The essence of many religious and spiritual traditions and creation narratives is love for your neighbour and care for the earth.
"Science has proved we are one. All is intermingling energy..." Jude Curriven
Today scientific knowledge has expanded our idea of what loving your neighbour and caring for the earth might mean. Best-selling author Lynne Mctaggart points to the “illusion of separation”. We are all more deeply connected with each other and the whole of creation than the materialist world view, expressed in the quotation below, which has dominated science for centuries allows.
"I have described the Earth and the whole visible Universe in the manner of a machine." Descartes (Scientist and Philosopher)
This view of Nature as nothing more than a machine has focused on the idea that nothing exists beyond the material world. This has underpinned the commercialisation and commodification of Nature, allowing people to use its resources in thoughtless and destructive ways, leading to our present climate crisis.
What is sometimes referred to as the New Science presents an alternative view and suggests that we are all parts of one interconnected energy field which extends throughout the known universe.
At surface level we are separate beings but beneath this we are more deeply connected than is often imagined. Even though we may not recognise it, our decisions, thoughts and actions impact the world around us in ways we don't always understand or realise.
“You could not remove a single grain of sand from its place without thereby … changing something throughout all parts of the immeasurable whole.” Fichte, The Vocation of Man
However small our actions, they can have far reaching effect as in the often quoted phrase:
“a butterfly flapping its wings in Brazil can produce a tornado in Texas.” Edward Norton Lorenz
For Human and Earth flourishing for all, living for the whole needs to become a core value for humanity and in this way huge and urgent change can happen.
Our choices matter! Especially if we want to follow Gandhi's advice to "Be the change you wish to see".
Living for the Whole, 23rd July 2021
The world is burning
These are the words that have been echoing in my mind and heart in recent weeks. Everywhere we turn we are confronted with growing polarisation amongst people and in politics as well as the enormous destructive effects of climate change. How can we remain hopeful and take positive actions in the light of the many catastrophes and conflicts?
Each time I connect with the enormity of what is going on I have a sense of grief, but from this grief arises a new sense of urgency to make whatever small contribution I can towards a world where all can flourish.
The circumstances of our world can seem overwhelming and this overwhelm can cause people to deny or close their minds to the bigger picture. My sense is that we need to shift into a consciousness of 'living for the whole'. What do I mean by this? Well, many things and in future newsletters I hope to share more about this. Here, I would like to share two inspiring stories and also some wisdom which comes from the international organisation, Rotary, which in some way represent living for the whole.
The two stories illustrate that no matter how hampered we might feel by our own personal life situation there is something we can contribute to the good of the whole.
The first story was one I heard from Gloucester Fair Shares at one of our community meetings at the Friendship Cafe, Gloucester https://thefriendshipcafe.com. A lady who was house bound wanted to contribute to her community but was not sure how. What eventually transpired was that she offered to take in parcels for her local community - receiving parcels is of course problematic for people who are out all day. This helped her community and also herself as she made friendships with the people who came to collect their parcels. Her selfless act in wanting to work for the good of others resulted in mutual good.
The second inspiration is a good friend of mine who has a real heart for the world, for nature and for good of all. She too is 'differently abled' but she uses whatever she is able to do to work for the whole. She does this by regularly posting on Facebook incredibly informative posts about climate events and other situations around the world, often things which do not hit the headlines.
Another aspect of living for the whole can be seen in some wisdom from Rotary International. They have something called the four way test, which I think is a good rule of thumb for discerning how we as individuals can live for the whole.
The Four-Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians recite it at club meetings:
Of the things we think, say or do
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
These four simple questions might help each of us if we are inspired by the idea of living not just for ourselves, our friends and families but living for the whole, as the Dalai Lama suggests:
“I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment.”
—The Dalai Lama
With best wishes,
Heather-Jane Ozanne
