Finding light amidst the darkness
Paulette Pipe opened our meeting with reverent stillness, reading the poem The River Can Not Go Back by Kahlil Gibran and then inviting us to set a sacred intention and "emancipate from anything other than love!" What a profoundly perfect way to begin our time together!
Janessa then began the conversation on the paradox of darkness and light, reminding us that disconnection can be a crack that lets in the light. Offering examples of the recent paradoxes of police brutality answered with protests of solidarity and COVID devastations alongside healing of the natural world. Janessa invited our guests to share thoughts on the questions: can we move from one story to a collective story? What is it about going in to the darkness that brings light? How can we grow in courage, compassion, and community?
Souli affirmed that hope is not some la-la thing, but has power within it and we must never let it go. He offered, "It is a thousand steps to turn your enemy into a friend and don’t take one step to turn your friend into an enemy."
Emmanuel greeted us with the message that “faith, hope, and love" have always rekindled light in dark moments. And Love is the greatest of these three. He explained, "When I strive to make these three virtues manifest, the result is always light which can dispel all sorts of darkness and bring hope."
And Offuh fully embodied the passion and depth of urgency he feels as a peacebuilder. He reminded us that the stars need the darkness of night to shine. He urged all of us to shine as peacebuilders. "The darkness is the place where we are called to shine. We are called to bring lightness to dark places."
We are so grateful for the special and unique gifts each of our peacebuilders give so deeply and humbly. They truly live lives of purpose and pursue labors of love on behalf of all humanity.
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Click here to link to call recording.
Call Notes - see attachment
The next call date is TBD - stay tuned!
Links shared by guests and attendees:
Paulette Pipe is the host of Touching the Stillness Ministries podcast.
Martin shared an NPR story, Hotel Corona: https://www.npr.org/2020/05/13/855237010/hotel-corona
Souli shared a link to this Rumi poem: https://www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/poem/guest-house/
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Thank you for being a part of this community, for listening to stories of light, for sharing your own light with the world. We are truly shining light as one precious global family! Much love, peace, and health to you and yours,