Thank you for this grace-filled essay detailing our so human frailties from which we create and cause such deep harm. To read and reread your words, share them with my congregation, my community, is my commitment this day. It’s a call so easily set aside: this is hard. What else is there? Please keep writing through all this chaos: I will keep reading and working for love. Yes, together. Shannan
Here in Canada we have suddenly, forcefully discovered that we too are now 'other'. Many have known this for millennia. It is in the Bible. And it is in the bible from Genesis 18:16 onwards. Instability and quick changes breed fear. Some of us are wondering if we are about to be added to the recent list of nations that are 'persona non grata' in the US.
We do have the tools to work at this and it is indeed long-haul work. Internal peace is one of my prerequisites. And Jesus will supply that (John 14). Prayer is essential (James 5). Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said that after the white soldiers in South Africa had hauled the parishioners from church and beaten them severely they went back in and prayed for them. The soldiers then broke down crying as they heard themselves prayed for. Love, care and community are what can make us different. This coming Pentecost makes a great place to start. Rev. Scott Brown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
How grateful I am for the spiritual wisdom and emotional intelligence that you bring to every one of your daily reflections! I find this essay particularly compelling. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis of the patterns of trauma and grief that underlie eruptions of violence and hatred, and for inviting us to participate in the processes that bring healing.
The depth of your inquiry is breathtaking. As I follow the quiet decent of the light of your vision, it leads me back to the beginning of humanity. And I wonder how this learned pattern of otherness, the not-me, the chasm of relationship has served us? What alchemy of the soul happens when held in Love itself. Cameron, I think you are tugging on a very big string. I love you dearly and will join you in sitting with this.
The layers you identify make moving towards resolution or an acceptable peace all the more challenging. Not impossible, but not likely to be achieved in my lifetime I fear.
I also wonder what the effect would be/ would have been with more female presence in positions of power. Another question to add to the mix.
On top of all this, now all the countries that are banned from entering the United States. Our parish supports an afghan family that came here during the Afghanistan exit. Part of their family, a father and grandfather, are still trying to get visas to join their family here. The father is married to a woman who is the mother of 3 of his young children, aged 7 and 2 twins age 3. How will they be family again now? He had been allowed to visit but not stay. Now he won’t be able to come at all! How is that fair????
Thank you for this reflection. I realize that underneath my rage at the attacks on the programs for the poor, the disabled and the attack on evidence based medicine and research is my deep grief for the country that I thought was moving forward
I am aware of the unrest within our Earth herself, which is experiencing increased volcanic and earthquake activity, wildfires, floods and more powerful storms. We are part of creation, we live on this Earth and rely on her to sustain us. Could it be that these extreme shifts affect us as well? Could it be we are reacting to changes beneath our feet that cause us to become restless, irrational, exploding in rage, lashing out???
Having worked with abusive men for twenty years, violence is about fear and being overwhelmed. It is about not regulating ourselves so we can take a step back and ask what are the consequences and who is the other person. It is also about male ego and testosterone which has to be managed and held accountable. Love your writing. Marcia Perryman Hastings ontario
Thank you for this grace-filled essay detailing our so human frailties from which we create and cause such deep harm. To read and reread your words, share them with my congregation, my community, is my commitment this day. It’s a call so easily set aside: this is hard. What else is there? Please keep writing through all this chaos: I will keep reading and working for love. Yes, together. Shannan
Thank you for this blessed reflection. Even the consciousness of our present global human reality is 'trauma' itself.
I mainly agree with you Cameron.
I do believe there are other factors here too. Go to sure both suffer from generational and current trauma. Buf also we see:
Racism… Zionism is racist at its core. A Jewish state
Greed… wanting Palestinian land
Power… one of Jesus’ temptations in the desert…. Palestinians are utterly powerless while Israelis hold utter control.
Here in Canada we have suddenly, forcefully discovered that we too are now 'other'. Many have known this for millennia. It is in the Bible. And it is in the bible from Genesis 18:16 onwards. Instability and quick changes breed fear. Some of us are wondering if we are about to be added to the recent list of nations that are 'persona non grata' in the US.
We do have the tools to work at this and it is indeed long-haul work. Internal peace is one of my prerequisites. And Jesus will supply that (John 14). Prayer is essential (James 5). Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said that after the white soldiers in South Africa had hauled the parishioners from church and beaten them severely they went back in and prayed for them. The soldiers then broke down crying as they heard themselves prayed for. Love, care and community are what can make us different. This coming Pentecost makes a great place to start. Rev. Scott Brown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
This was beautiful, inspiring and calming, thank you.
How grateful I am for the spiritual wisdom and emotional intelligence that you bring to every one of your daily reflections! I find this essay particularly compelling. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis of the patterns of trauma and grief that underlie eruptions of violence and hatred, and for inviting us to participate in the processes that bring healing.
The depth of your inquiry is breathtaking. As I follow the quiet decent of the light of your vision, it leads me back to the beginning of humanity. And I wonder how this learned pattern of otherness, the not-me, the chasm of relationship has served us? What alchemy of the soul happens when held in Love itself. Cameron, I think you are tugging on a very big string. I love you dearly and will join you in sitting with this.
THANK YOU -- such wisdom seems increasingly rare (and is so DEEPLY needed!) in today's world.
Thank you for this clarifying perspective.
The layers you identify make moving towards resolution or an acceptable peace all the more challenging. Not impossible, but not likely to be achieved in my lifetime I fear.
I also wonder what the effect would be/ would have been with more female presence in positions of power. Another question to add to the mix.
On top of all this, now all the countries that are banned from entering the United States. Our parish supports an afghan family that came here during the Afghanistan exit. Part of their family, a father and grandfather, are still trying to get visas to join their family here. The father is married to a woman who is the mother of 3 of his young children, aged 7 and 2 twins age 3. How will they be family again now? He had been allowed to visit but not stay. Now he won’t be able to come at all! How is that fair????
I am sharing this with hope.
Thank you for this reflection. I realize that underneath my rage at the attacks on the programs for the poor, the disabled and the attack on evidence based medicine and research is my deep grief for the country that I thought was moving forward
clear and beautiful ! Thank you
I am aware of the unrest within our Earth herself, which is experiencing increased volcanic and earthquake activity, wildfires, floods and more powerful storms. We are part of creation, we live on this Earth and rely on her to sustain us. Could it be that these extreme shifts affect us as well? Could it be we are reacting to changes beneath our feet that cause us to become restless, irrational, exploding in rage, lashing out???
What lies beneath violence is men.
It’s always them who seem to make these decisions to choose violence and war.. surely we can put two and two together.
Having worked with abusive men for twenty years, violence is about fear and being overwhelmed. It is about not regulating ourselves so we can take a step back and ask what are the consequences and who is the other person. It is also about male ego and testosterone which has to be managed and held accountable. Love your writing. Marcia Perryman Hastings ontario