In November 2014 I returned from my African home to speak at the Hamilton Convention Centre on the theme of The Nature of Peace. This was on the invitation of the YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington-Brantford, which holds an annual Peace Medal Breakfast to honour the people of Hamilton region who work towards peace. Following is […]
The Nature of Peace – Complete address Read More »
This is the sixth and final excerpt from an address I gave in Hamilton, Canada in November 2014 on the Nature of Peace. Excerpt #1 is here and #2 is here and #3 is here and #4 is here and #5 is here. + This is what the nature of peace is like. It’s a long, hard journey. Peace is a marathon.
The Nature of Peace – 6 – Breaking and suffering Read More »
This the fifth of several excerpts from an address I gave in Hamilton, Canada in November 2014. Excerpt #1 is here and #2 is here and #3 is here and #4 is here. + If nothing else, when we cross borders we’ll be misunderstood. I remember once we had some Canadian visitors in Uganda and they needed
The Nature of Peace – 5 – Lost in translation Read More »
Last week I was at a pool in Uganda doing my lanes. And most of the time when I swim in Uganda this particular pool is empty because Ugandans don’t swim. But this day there was a little girl there – she looked about 10 years old – and she was trying to learn to swim and she came up to me in the water and said, “Okay. I’ll climb on your back and you’ll swim and carry me and I’ll kick.”
The Nature of Peace – 4 – Understanding risk Read More »
This leads to the real good news, which is you. You’re the good news. You’re the nature of peace, created in God’s image, just a lower than the angels. You’re doing all sorts of things to promote and cultivate peace. You’re working against this natural tendency for war. Congratulations again, nominees and winners.
And how are you doing this? Are you just gathering together to hold hands and sing Kumbaya? No, you’re imagining a better world. You’re picturing it. Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
The Nature of Peace – 3 – You’re the good news Read More »
Now there’s good news too and I want to get to the good news. But first, let me ask you a question. Generally speaking, very broadly now, in 2014 is the world a safe place? I’d like to see a show of hands. Who thinks we live in a safe world? And who thinks it’s not safe
The Nature of Peace – 2 – Don’t let your inner peace be stolen Read More »
Ugandan neighbour kid to Jean: ‘Where are you going?’ Jean to Ugandan neighbour kid: ‘Crazy. Want to come?’ Ugandan neighbour kid: ‘Let me go ask my Mom.’ Is it the Canadian accent? ++ But when you cross borders there will be, at the very least, misunderstandings, if not risk and a need for courage to
Keynote address on Nature of Peace – Nov. 17 last day for tickets Read More »
Some weeks ago I introduced this book, Forgiving our Fathers and Mothers, in this space, a book by Leslie Leyland Fields that is recently released. Leslie is a writing colleague I met during while studying in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program at Seattle Pacific University. Leslie knows first-hand the great importance
Forgiving our Fathers and Mothers – (Excerpt 1 – Silence) Read More »
