Imagine a World at Peace
Imagine a world in which active nonviolence is the normative daily news story. You may chuckle and say, “Dream on,” and this is exactly what I am going to ask you to do.
Pope Francis’ message on Jan. 1, 2017, was titled, “Nonviolence: a Style of Politics for Peace—Message for People of Peace.”
He began with this heartfelt intention:
At the beginning of this New Year, I offer heartfelt wishes of peace to the world’s peoples and nations, to heads of state and government, and to religious, civic, and community leaders. I wish peace to every man, woman, and child, and I pray that the image and likeness of God in each person will enable us to acknowledge one another as sacred gifts endowed with immense dignity. Especially in situations of conflict, let us respect this, our ‘deepest dignity,’ and make active nonviolence our way of life.
He continued,
I would like to reflect on nonviolence as a style of politics for peace. I ask God to help all of us to cultivate nonviolence in our most personal thoughts and values. May charity and nonviolence govern how we treat each other as individuals, within society, and in international life.
I invite you to imagine extending peace to the people of the world, to all nations, governmental leaders, and others.
Imagine convening the following in a safe, comfortable living room in Smalltown, USA:
- Mary Frances Clarke, BVM foundress;
- Donald Trump, former president;
- Pope Francis and St. Francis of Assisi;
- Brianna, a teenage girl forced into human trafficking;
- Kim Reynolds, governor of Iowa;
- Luiz, a meatpacking plant worker with no documentation and his 3-year-old daughter Maria, who is a U.S. citizen;
- Kamala Harris, vice president of the U.S.;
- Sister Mother Earth;
- John, a non-vaccinated 45-year-old male;
- Vladimir Putin, president of Russia;
- Jane, a school bully;
- Jesus of Nazareth;
- Greta Thunberg, an 18-year-old Swedish environmental activist;
- Rachel, a transgender person;
- a refugee child from Sudan;
- and yourself.
The ground rules for this gathering are: we will do no harm to each other; everyone gets to speak their truth; everyone listens to the others’ perspective; everyone withholds judgment; everyone tries to respect the others; and everyone works toward a common goal of peace.
Imagine it; breathe, and imagine it. Imagine the diverse perspectives. Imagine what people had in common. Listen to what surprised you. Listen to what invoked anger within you. Listen to what inspired hope for you.
After hearing from everyone, imagine what you would say. Reflect on what you are willing to do to make this common goal of peace a reality; or could a common goal even be reached in your imagination? Or was the image that people from divergent perspectives and Sister Mother Earth could even come together become the common goal towards peace?
Conclude by sending peace to each person and Sister Mother Earth. Open yourself to receive peace from each of the participants.
This is one way we can cultivate active nonviolence which does impact ourselves and the global community.
Peace!
What an exceptional gathering! I’m eager for some solitude to attend to your suggested reflections. Thanks for calling together this exceptional group and engaging us in nonviolent sharing. Peace, Betty V
What a powerful message for the feast of the Transfiguration. Thank you
A challenging project indeed, and one that needs a space of reflective time to engage it thoughtfully. I’d have the greatest difficulty listening to Trump and Putin, I think–which means I need to examine my judgments about the potential for good of people I consider to be so steeped in evil behaviors they can’t change
What a creative way to invite us to dialogue with people holding different opinions. I am looking forward to this dialog during ny retreat this week.
This an old idea that never gets old—gathering a group and imagine the discussion. But it always stimulates thoughts for me. The pope has gathered such diversity (even including Trump as a listener!) Makes me think that even people such as Trump have something to teach me…and did learn much about my place in the world during his tenure. It sparked involvement in community organizations. I didn’t perceive those commitments as just volunteering. To me they were a necessity in the political environment.
This article takes away some of the anger and fear. It makes me grateful for the stimulus to be involved that the Trump era sparked. We can never take democracy, peace or discussions of differences for granted.