As we journey towards Christmas, with so much of 2023 behind us, and uncertainty about the future before us, the question comes, how do we find peace? Make peace? Promote peace?
Our School Prayer the Prayer of St Francis speaks of us becoming ‘instruments of peace’. And the prayer goes on to speak of ‘grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand’.
When we understand people and their actions, we come closer to them and also closer to actively promoting peace in our communities.
Albert Einstein is quoted as saying, ‘Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding’. And Marie Curie, quoted a saying, ‘Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so we may fear less.’ If the opposite of understanding is fear, this may lead people to say and do things which are negative.
By actively seeking to understand what is unfamiliar, is movement towards peace and connectedness.
Last week Diwali was celebrated by Hindu’s across the world and as part of continuing our journey of seeking understanding and respect in the RAVE program in our Junior School, we invited Laki Vasan (the Tintern morning Receptionist) to come and share her experiences of Diwali with the Junior School students. Laki engaged the students extremely well and performed a light dance for them. This provided new insights and understanding for many students and for our Hindu students, a great point of connection.
May we continue to seek to understand what people value and why, so as to move towards peace and connectedness.
The Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
Rev Alison Andrew | School Chaplain
