tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18141879144609638852024-03-06T13:32:48.694-05:00Journey to PeaceOne woman's path...Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-44795864431293265942024-03-05T17:50:00.000-05:002024-03-05T17:50:31.761-05:00The Pot has been Stirred<p> The metaphor that occurs to me is that of preparing cooked pudding. When all of the ingredients for the pudding are in the pot it goes on the stove top and you stir, and stir, and stir some more. As the pudding nears completion it thickens and becomes a rich, thick, and very delicious liquid. It begins to boil under the surface. If you stop stirring the pudding begins to boil with large pops and spurts. I've never seen a lava spout rise up out of the ground, but I suspect this looks like a mini eruption. </p><p>What does pudding have to do with spiritual life? It feels to me as if as long as we keep ourselves busy (stirring the pot in this metaphor) that our lives just keep putting along without leaving much time for the movement of Spirit. When we stop stirring and sit quietly, listening, praying, Spirit has the opportunity to bubble up within us; to grab our attention; and to feed us in ways that we had not yet recognized needed to be fed.</p><p>Since coming home from the first School of the Spirit's Participating in God's Power (SOTS PGP) residency, there has been much bubbling up. The call to ministry that has been with me for forty some years has never left me and I am reminded of that. Perhaps, then, it should not come as a surprise to me that a strong tug toward the work of chaplaincy has re-emerged. My years of serving the men at New York State's Eastern Correctional Facility as their outside facilitator for the Quaker Worship Group there and serving that group as Spiritual Director bubble up. To what end? Time will tell. Things are turning.</p><p><u>Simple Gifts - a Quaker/Shaker hymn</u><br /></p><p>Tis a gift to be simple, ’tis a gift to be free<br />
’tis a gift to come down where you ought to be<br />
And when we find ourselves in the place just right<br />
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
</p><p>When true simplicity is gained<br />
To bow and to bend we shall not be ashamed<br />
To turn, turn will be our delight<br />
‘Till by turning, turning we come round right.</p><p><br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-37036422396420374552024-02-17T17:47:00.001-05:002024-02-17T17:47:04.948-05:00Participating in "Participating in God's Power"<p>Participating in God's Power. The name itself feels somewhat intimidating unless your personal faith, your belief, your heart and soul, takes you to a place of believing that God, Spirit, Creator, Yahweh, is within. If you believe that, you are always a participant in God's power. That is where my belief takes me and so, here I am. It's day three and I'm forced to acknowledge that there maybe more to my being here than I thought there was.</p><p>Participating in God's Power is a year long program designed to lead a group of selected participants; a cohort, through a year long process of study, reflection, and various exercises designed to deepen spirituality; to deepen one's relationship with spirit, to deepen ones sense of Knowing. There are five residencies and multiple other meetings throughout the year.<br /></p><p>But what am <i>I</i> doing here? What drew me here? For me, there is only one answer. Spirit led me here. My work in the country of Georgia has come to an end. I felt clear that, even though my part in that work was complete, my work in the world is not done. The Leading to the work of Peacemaking remains strong within me and tugs harder and harder on my heart to <i>do something</i>! All that is well and good, but what is that work? Affirmation of my participation in the program came as I began to feel the tug to be here: first from my support committee, then my application was accepted and a grant that I'd applied for to help pay for the program was approved, then through contributions from friends from various places in my life the balance of the funds for the course appeared as well as enough money to help with the purchase of the required books and the cost of travel. In my life, when things fall together in this way, I feel the hand of Creator at work.</p><p>The first residency began this Friday (2/15/24) at Pendle Hill, in Pennsylvania. It's now Saturday. Already I feel my inner world is shifting. I am being challenged mightily by an underlying sense that the strong leading that brought me here may not only be about the next steps for my work as a Peacemaker but may also have to do with healing my internal wounds so that I can be a better Peacemaker; a better lover to the world. </p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-41190365605031139642023-05-15T14:07:00.000-04:002023-05-15T14:07:02.879-04:00Mother's Day<p>Our Relationships with our Mothers differs greatly between each child, each sibling, each family and the next. When others share how wonderful Moms are and share their belief that all Moms should be lifted up as role models, all Moms love their children unconditionally, I shudder. I grew up in a household where I was unloved by my mother and unwanted. I was absolutely clear that was true from a very young age. My mother later affirmed it. I don't know how much this harmful, hurtful relationship with my mother colored my ability to mother my own children. I love each of my three daughters unconditionally. Each one was deeply wanted. I worked hard to be a good mother. Here's how that turned out. Of my three daughters, I have a wonderful relationship with my youngest daughter and her family. My second-born died by suicide in 2016 when she was thirty-four years old. My eldest daughter has chosen not to see me or to speak to me for the last five years - She will not share with me why.</p><p></p><p>I share these things not because I want you to feel sorry for me in any way, rather, because for those of us that carry deep wounds around mothering, Mother's Day can be an extremely painful time. The loss of a child, no matter what the reason may be, leaves a hole in your being. The desire to have a child that cannot be fulfilled rends a deep longing pain. It's a time when women may simply withdraw or hide the pain that they carry deep within. This brief writing is a plea to everyone, everywhere, to acknowledge the pain of others even while celebrating the joy. May this holiday be a blessed time of listening, healing, and joy. <br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-49373906681639350332023-04-30T17:20:00.001-04:002023-04-30T17:21:51.671-04:00Blessings<p> This trip to Sakartvelo was not what I had expected it to be. It was not what I had hoped for, and yet, there are blessings.</p><p>I am blessed to have reconnected, face to face, with my dear F/friend Misha. I am blessed to have connected with Act for Transformation's Inga Shumagia, Executive Director of the organization's Caucuses office. She is smart and focused and she is able to envision a clear path forward. Alena Kemm works with many groups that partner with Act for Transformation doing trainings primarily with the Fairtogether program. This program is an adaptation of the Alternatives to Violence Project used primarily with younger people to great success.<br /></p><p></p><p>On this trip, I was able to make a connection for Act for Transformation with a US Embassy officer who came to the Act for Transformation offices, met the staff, heard the stories, and was visibly impressed. He encouraged Inga and Alena to invite others from the embassy and to request much needed funds.</p><p>I had been asked if I would give a lecture on a topic of my choosing on the Monday of my second week in Tbilisi. I chose to speak on Peacemaking in Today's World. I'm not sure just where that topic came from but it gave me good opportunity to reflect on the state of the world and the role that we each can play as peacemakers. It was a small group of like minded peacemakers that attended and so I decided to abbreviate my remarks and to ask those present for their thoughts and concerns. It became a deep and wonderful conversation. A true blessing!<br /></p><p> I am blessed to have been in contact with both Ukrainian refugees and
Russian Conscientious Objectors. Learning a bit about their struggles,
hearing their stories brings a searing reality to their plight. I think
for me, in my leading as a peacemaker, this is a blessing and a
challenge. As I step into the work of peacemaking my heart is cracked
open again and again as I find myself confronted with more than I feel I
can possibly hold. There is often a point at which my heart feels as if it will burst with both a love for these people and from the pain that I now
carry within as their plight becomes real to me. It means acknowledging over and
over again that the work that I am given, the work that I attempt to do,
comes from Spirit. When it is clearly Spirit that calls me into work, I
must trust that I will be given whatever gifts I need to carry the
work. This is a truth that I find myself needing to learn over and over
again.</p><p></p><p>One final story - As Misha and I prepared to leave a meeting with Ukrainian refugees and older gentleman asked (through a translator) what my heritage is. I was slightly taken aback but shared that my mother was of mixed European descent and that my father's family were Ashkenazi Jews from Odessa. He grinned broadly and said that he'd known it. I've only known my father's heritage for a couple of years. There was something in that acknowledgement that brought me to tears. It felt almost like coming home.</p><p>The work that I had planned to do during this trip eluded me. There were
moments of frustration and self doubt. But as I reflect back I see the
blessings that I have brought home and the blessings that Spirit has
allowed me to leave in Sakartvelo and I am grateful.<br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-13778770386527453482023-04-18T13:54:00.000-04:002023-04-18T13:54:25.335-04:00Reflections...<p> It is early days to know all of the implications of my time in Sakartvelo (the ancient name for Georgia). Differences rise for me first. A sense of tension as I walk among residents of the city. A recognition of different ethnicities - Georgian, Russian, Ukrainian and the confluence of multiple languages. People seem just a bit less at ease, just a bit less helpful and open. There is so much need for peacemaking in the midst of this.</p><p>I had hoped to find the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) continuing to thrive as it had been when I left twelve years ago. This kind of work for personal and community peace is so important in this environment. Unfortunately, I did not find a thriving AVP community. Instead, I learned that many of the facilitators stopped due to family commitments, or jobs and some of the AVP facilitators were again asking for financial compensation to do workshops. There are so many reasons why paying facilitators can't work. The work of AVP needs to come from the heart - that changes when facilitators are paid. Also, AVP workshops are based on all participants being equals. If someone is paid to be there than clearly they are not equal to those who are unpaid. It is a great sorrow for me to find this.</p><p>I began a conversation with Inga Shumagia, the Executive Director at the Act for Transformation Caucuses office around the possibility of sending Young Friends from Baltimore Yearly Meeting and possibly New York Yearly Meeting to Georgia as interns and to possibly do an exchange with Georgian interns. We were both excited about this possibility and I committed to starting the process by writing up my thoughts of how this might work. After our conversation I found that Act for Transformation Caucuses office is struggling financially and I'm feeling that this sort of internship is not viable.</p><p>As I sit today. It feels as if my work in Sakartvelo has come to an end. I have been blessed by the many experiences and friends that have come my way in Sakartvelo. Friends that I will continue to carry in my heart and in relationship. I remind myself that, as this blog is called "Journey to Peace", the work is not only about the work in Sakartvelo. The path to peace winds throughout our own communities, cities, states, country. Long before this trip to Sakartvelo, I had been planning work in collaboration with the McKim School in Baltimore and I'm hoping to open conversations with local AVP facilitators to do community workshops. But there is so much more to do beyond the work of AVP.<br /></p><p>AVP is an incredible tool to help us to meet violence nonviolently. Nonetheless, it feels almost more important at this time, to lift up our faith, the faith of Quakers everywhere, as an immersive faith. As a way of being in the world for one and all.<br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-35120896487968381652023-04-12T08:44:00.002-04:002023-04-12T08:44:43.321-04:00<p> <img alt="Open photo" class="x1lliihq x193iq5w x5yr21d xh8yej3" src="https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/338807859_1385741361966971_5514224674716353346_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p206x206&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=aee45a&_nc_ohc=BpraE8BSitkAX8wxq3P&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_ht=scontent.xx&oh=03_AdTXHrZfVXxn2Hu7eDicpXcbf_jPw8tFTK0rWlC5Yj3TJg&oe=645E2B52" style="display: block; max-height: 200px; max-width: 100%;" /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-62945435959356818502023-04-12T08:34:00.000-04:002023-04-12T08:34:12.608-04:00<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">What does it mean to be at peace?</span></h1><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Where to begin? I think with personal peace. For me, when I can come to a place of peace within myself, I find that I can carry that peace with me and share it, even radiate it to other people. </span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Finding my way to peace is not something that just happened one day. It has been many years of learning, and constant practice, both of which continue every day. Part of this comes from the practice of my Quaker faith which, I believe, is an immersive faith. While Quakers have no creed there are understandings among us that we agree to try to practice in our lives. First is that we believe that there is that of God, of Spirit, in every human and that we look for that spark in everyone before anything else. This is the place where we are truly all equals. Then there are the testimonies. Our testimonies suggest to us ways in which we may deepen our lives and understanding in the Spirit. We are called to live into the testimonies so that we can testify to how each one, and all of them together, inform our lives. There are five broad categories: Simplicity, Peace, Integrity, Community, Equality. For me, each one of the testimonies calls me to deeply reflect on my life and works. What have I done to simplify my life and possessions? What am I doing to find peace in myself and in the world? Am I living from a place of integrity, of honesty? What am I doing to help strengthen and feed my community? Am I treating everyone the same? All of these things work to create one cohesive way of being in the world. They create the immersive faith that I believe creates the Quaker way of being in the world. Being a Quaker and working to follow the Quaker way of life was an early opening for me in finding my way to peace.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">The meeting for worship that I attend is an unprogrammed meeting - that is to say that there is no priest, no formal prayer or particular format. We come together on a Sunday morning to sit in silence. Within the silence, we individually invite God/Spirit to be with us and to speak to us directly. When we are clear that we have received such a message we rise and share it with those present. This kind of worship calls us to be prepared for an encounter with Spirit. For me, it requires a daily practice of sitting in silence and waiting on Spirit. It means opening myself to different ways of hearing and learning which I do through many different kinds of spiritual reading.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Over time, all of these practices create a calmness, an openness, a love that moves within and beyond myself. It creates a deep quiet well within that I can go to when I need to recharge and that I can draw upon when I am called on to bring God's peace into the world.<br /></span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;"> My constant prayer came to me from Spirit as I sat in silent worship:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Let my words be thy words</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Let my will be thy will</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">Help me to be your Peace. </span></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: small;">May we all know that place of Peace. </span><br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-10891900506733414352023-04-12T08:33:00.002-04:002023-04-12T08:33:21.383-04:00<p><img alt="No description available." class=" x4ju7c5 xt7dq6l x14atkfc x193iq5w" height="371" src="https://scontent.ftbs5-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/338849335_205770168831364_1564362518563873933_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=IjOVUyb6uxkAX8sLRa8&_nc_ht=scontent.ftbs5-2.fna&oh=03_AdR80-Wo_6EO4uHQCa9jE-PvXJfm3FKXdhl19ywPe3UuKQ&oe=645DF9D3" width="494" /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-14339225119845453702023-04-11T02:34:00.000-04:002023-04-11T02:34:19.437-04:00<p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">One More Week ...</span></b><br /></p><p>Two more days of traveling. This time to the Kakheti region which is a major wine making region. I traveled at the invitation of Sergei and his family. Sergei is a C.O. from the Russian Federation's draft, having received three conscription notices so far. He has been hoping that I might help to find him some assistance to emigrate to the United States. I think I say, more than anything else, that I am not an expert and that I only know what I am able to see online. From what I see online, I am surprised to see how challenging emigration to the U.S. for both Russians and Ukrainians is.</p><p>Yesterday afternoon I had a wonderful treat! I was able to worship with old Friends (and new) at Tbilisi Friends Worship Group. Several of the members I first met on my first trip to Georgia in 2009. The worship felt deep and well grounded. I shared pictures of where I worship at Gunpowder Friends Meeting (Sparks, MD, Baltimore Yearly Meeting). They were excited and pleased to receive bookmarks with four seasons pictures of our Meeting house. We had wonderful treats and good conversation.</p><p>Over the last week I have been working to set up a meeting at the Act for Transformation office with a representative from the U.S. embassy. Today those efforts finally came to fruition. Ryan Sherman, Cultural Programs Coordinator in the public affairs area came to meet me and Act for Transformation staff at their offices. We spoke for quite some time about the Alternatives to Violence Project and Fairtogether and the impact that they have on people's lives. Alena and Inga shared about the amazing work that they are doing in Georgia but also in Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. Misha shared about the work that he is doing facilitating work with Ukrainian and Russian refugees and conscientious objectors. Ryan was openly impressed. He had been unaware of this work for peace. He was surprised to know that facilitators that I trained twelve and thirteen years ago are still working. He shared possibilities for financial support from the US embassy. I will work with Act for Transformation in whatever way I cane to facilitate these grants.</p><p>Finally, this morning I presented my talk on Peacemaking in Today's world. We were a small group made up exclusively of men and woman who are working for peace. I decided to keep my remarks short (fifteen minutes) and to spend how ever long felt right in discussion. It was a deep and heartfelt exchange in which we learned from each other. I will share more about it in a separate post<br /></p><p>I am grateful for this time of stretching and growing for myself and those that I am able to touch.<br /></p><p><br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-70906673032907864572023-04-07T11:45:00.000-04:002023-04-07T11:45:19.489-04:00<p> <img alt="No description available." class=" x4ju7c5 xt7dq6l x14atkfc x193iq5w" height="427" src="https://scontent.ftbs5-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/337206361_2862334447233046_5992339598850531984_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=RJYEyEeBzcIAX-HVxe5&_nc_ht=scontent.ftbs5-3.fna&oh=03_AdTCWXvacAs4aZqmrMgzO9Kmve9jehu150Z3PLmYAwl2AA&oe=64579C6B" width="577" /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-25975662676015346032023-04-07T11:37:00.001-04:002023-04-07T11:37:59.646-04:00<p> Yesterday, Thursday was comprised of two primary activities. First, a meeting with Zaal Tkeshelashvili who serves as pastor for the Evangelical Church of Georgia. His church is small and unaffiliated and so is facing pressure from the Georgian government to become affiliated with the Pentecostal churches in Georgia, or to close. We talked at length and shared a meal. There is a sense here in Georgia, that Americans can move mountains. We can perhaps move mountains if our faith is strong enough but I'm not clear that extends to corrupt governments. His church's case is being overseen by one of four Georgian judges that the United States just sanctioned. There are other concerns that he hopes for help with - much smaller by far - where assistance may be possible.</p><p>In the evening Misha and I attended a session with a psychiatrist at housing for Ukrainian refugees. The psychiatrist is a young and cheerful woman who is sponsored by Act for Transformation. I was introduced to the participants all of whom were from Mariupol, Ukraine. One young man showed me a video of his apartment in flames after being hit by a Russian shell. Another elderly gentleman shared that this was the second time he had been forced to evacuate Mariupol. The first time was in 1944. His wife was killed in the fighting. His daughter was also with him. Her husband had been killed. My heart ached for them all. As I listened to the session, unable to understand a word, I was struck by the clear spirit of hope and determination that they carry. When we were leaving that same elderly gentleman asked me (through Misha) what is my nationality. I shared with him that my mother was a mix of many nationalities and that my father's family came from Odessa, Ukraine. He smiled broadly and said that he'd seen it in my face. I was shocked by how very deeply moved I was to be identified in that way. The knowledge of this heritage is quite new to me. Creating ties in this way feels like a coming home.</p><p>When I first arrived in Georgia, I was asked if I would give a talk. I asked what I should speak about and was told that I should decide. So, on Monday at 11:00 I will speak on Peacemaking in Today's World. I'm not sure what led me to that choice but it has deeply challenged me to hold questions like "What makes someone a Peacemaker?" "What is Peace?" "What is violence?" "How do we do this thing we call peacemaking?" "Why do I believe so absolutely that world peace is possible?" "How can we plant the seeds of peace?" And on and on it goes. In the end, I suspect I have far more questions than answers but I have always believed that the questions are far more important than the answers. The questions remain constant while the answers change as we grow in our understanding. And so, while I have things to share, I hope to open a conversation with those present so that we can learn from one another.</p><p>Tomorrow I will be off to Kakheti region with Misha and a Russian family. Kakheti region is in the far east of the country, bordered by Azerbaijan. It is the country's largest wine producing region. The father of this Russian family is a conscientious objector who has received three conscription notices so far. He is in Georgia with his wife and two children. They will host Misha and I. Misha shared with me some time ago that they hope to emigrate to America. I have already shared that I am at a loss as to how that can happen. That said, I am honestly not sure if there is a point to this trip other than the trip itself but I agreed to let Misha set my itinerary and so here I am. We will stay overnight in Kakheti and return to Tbilisi in time to worship with Tbilisi Friends Worship Group at 5:00 pm on Sunday.</p><p>I continue to be amazed at the depth and breadth of the work that Act for Transformation is engaged in and yes, it is all focused on moving our world toward peace. It is an attempt, in great part, to open way to the understanding of opening hearts and minds to a loving, and open way of life - a way of healing before potential wounds occur. I am grateful for that work in the world.<br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-13653858650398214082023-04-06T00:06:00.000-04:002023-04-06T00:06:34.485-04:00<p> </p><div class=""><div class="ii gt" id=":2at"><div class="a3s aiL " id=":2as"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">It's
been a busy couple of days here in Tbilisi. Tuesday was spent in Act
forTransformation's office meeting and beginning to get to know the staff, Inga Shumagia, Alena Kemm, Anna who teaches Georgian language to volunteers and one of the volunteers, Maxim. I worked to speak with someone at the US embassy to set up a meeting with them at the office so that there is an awareness of the work that Act for Transformation is doing in Georgia. I also met with a representative from the Public
Defender's office, Attorney Luka Kiliptari, who works specifically on issues of minority
tolerance. The Quaker worship group in Tbilisi works closely with him. </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wednesday, Misha and I did a Zoom conference with Ukrainian refugees who are hoping
to get help to emigrate to the US. While I consistently share that I have only minimal knowledge on this topic, it appears that the US has specific programs (The US Refugee Admissions Program or USRAP, The Lautenberg Program, and Uniting for Ukraine). Each of these programs has very high bars that refugees need to meet in order to be granted a two year visa. I hear the deep yearning to be part of a functioning society, to be able to work, to be able to raise children without fear and I know that these families are so few among so many seeking to relocate. To know this from afar is one thing. To be in the midst is something else.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Yesterday, Inga and I began a conversation around the possibilities of youth volunteers from Baltimore Yearly Meeting (BYM) and possibly from New York Yearly Meeting (NYYM) to work with Act for Transformation and also the possibility of an exchange for Georgian youth to come and do work in the peacemaking field in America. We talked about an age range of eighteen to twenty-seven. We talked about financing issues and what the work of volunteers might look like. There is much work to be done in creating this opportunity! I've committed to creating an initial proposal for us to work with. Friends in BYM and NYYM, what say ye? I will need your help to make this a reality!</div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The work of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) in Georgia has once again faltered. Not because the work isn't needed and not because the value is not recognized but because culturally facilitators still feel they need to be paid to feel valued. This is such a struggle for me. I know that the work of facilitating AVP needs to come from the heart and that when we begin to pay facilitators that they are no longer equal with the other participants. I also know of the incredible impact that AVP has on lives. My heart aches as I struggle with these two divergent paths. Act for Transformation continues to move the work of AVP forward but often finds that they must pay at least a small stipend to facilitators. One way they have found forward is by creating another program called Fairtogether which is very similar to AVP but is just different enough. Fairtogether is used with younger populations including in schools. I feel excited to hear of this program and have been gifted with a facilitators manual.<br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This
trip is very different from the last three in that I am much more on my
own. The flat where I am staying is a good distance from the Office.
The first day Maxim came to the apartment to walk me to
the office. After that, I've been pretty much on my own to make my way between the two. The route is beginning to look familiar now but I'm still grateful to have good GPS in my phone! The walk provides good time and space for conversations with Spirit, my constant companion. Let my words be thy words. Let my will be thy will. Help me to be your Peace.<br /></div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </div><div class="gmail_default" style="color: #20124d; font-family: verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ"><tbody><tr class="acZ"><td class="gF gK"><br /></td><td class="gH bAk"><br /></td></tr><tr class="acZ"><td class="gH"><br /></td><td class="gH acX bAm" rowspan="2"><br /></td></tr><tr class="acZ xD"></tr><tr class="acZ xD"><td colspan="3"></td></tr></tbody></table>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-24686631356303741792023-04-03T07:25:00.004-04:002023-04-03T07:25:49.288-04:00In Tbilisi<p> After many months of planning I am finally here! It's been a very long three days getting to Tbilisi. The flight out of
Dulles International Airport Saturday night suffered significant delays
leaving. That meant the layover in Istanbul was reduced from fifteen
hours to thirteen hours and finally this morning a smooth three hour
flight into Tbilisi. The rest of today I will spend recuperating and
suspect that I'll jump into the work with both feet tomorrow. I've left
the complete plan of my itinerary up to Misha so it will be one day at a
time! I am excited and ready for whatever ways Spirit leads.</p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-28533576903483416992023-04-03T07:23:00.000-04:002023-04-03T07:23:49.445-04:00<p><img alt="No description available." class="x4ju7c5 xt7dq6l x14atkfc x193iq5w" height="320" src="https://scontent.ftbs5-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/337403784_759008252278563_3750884402075260235_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=ae9488&_nc_ohc=LaPNs2g0NQQAX8oHdqX&_nc_ht=scontent.ftbs5-3.fna&oh=03_AdQHrJvnkqk52c0gQkHBj--mdLyR9HvLL5JZkRrt3FQSYg&oe=64521437" width="240" /> </p><p><br /></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-29562331000057072502023-03-19T19:18:00.000-04:002023-03-19T19:18:26.616-04:00<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> It is March 19, 2023. I will leave for Tbilisi, Georgia in thirteen days. I, accompanied by my support committee, have been doing the interior work of preparation for this trip since well before the turn of the year. The trip itself will be short - leaving the U.S. on April 1st, arriving Tbilisi on April 3rd and returning home April 15th. My entire meeting (Gunpowder Friends Meeting, Baltimore Yearly Meeting) will travel with me in Spirit. How very blessed I am!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I am excited to <span style="line-height: 107%;">again be working with my longtime friend Misha,<span>
</span>meeting the
principals of Act for Transformation and their partner organizations, meeting
with Alternatives to Violence project (AVP) facilitators,<span> </span>talking about
possible internships for young Friends and delivering around forty pounds of books on peace, pacifism, nonviolence and Quaker views on peace donated by Friends at Gunpowder Meeting. Misha shares that I will have an opportunity to meet with and hear the stories of C.O.s and to share thoughts on classes for Ukrainians to learn English. Some of this work is completely new to me - I am ready.<br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;">For many years I have defined peacemaking as "a conscious act of love". Often, the further I travel on this journey, the more simplified things become so that today peacemaking seems simply "conscious love". Being aware that every embrace, every smile, every kind word, every moment shared in openness and honesty, softens a heart and opens a door. It is love that takes away the occasion for war. Each time we touch the heart of one other person, each time we plant another seed of peace we are that much closer.</span><span style="font-family: georgia; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></p>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-15084657583997958902011-10-27T09:57:00.001-04:002023-03-14T12:08:52.110-04:00Sakartvelo 2011 - last dayIt's a gray, chilly day here in Tbilisi; drizzling off and on. Our time here in Sakartvello has been full of many joys, times of intense discussion and learning, and definitely blessings. <br />
<br />
Our time doing AVP workshops, working with facilitators here as well as during the youth forum fills my heart with joy and hope for the future. There is still a huge amount of work to be done; particularly, new facilitators to be trained so that there will be enough who can dedicate time during the week when the younger facilitators are either at their jobs or at University.<br />
<br />
I had been looking at meeting with representatives at the US Embassy as simply a courtesy call but was pleasantly surprised to find their willingness to connect us to NGO partners and to be available to us as we move AVP forward.<br />
<br />
Our meeting with other Georgian officials were warm and cordial but it's apparant that it will take a great deal more work to show them that AVP is important to add to their offerings. My personal feeling is that until there are more AVP facilitators to do the work, a delay may be well. <br />
<br />
We continue to search for funding to translate the balance of the AVP basic manual and the remaining three manuals into Georgian.<br />
<br /><br />Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-24290249215908696002011-10-23T12:56:00.001-04:002011-10-23T13:15:18.012-04:00<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NJIMkqC8Ol_RNCTP2RVIe1RdnfLEPqWf7Xp5DQulB_AOUCdZna6bsxqsJPfQlcKP5IjW4GzoswSA_4UF29MuTzm88hRvZkeimouOAA8pPyAFBFTnPo4R3KU5b60viERq9RhEfe2WvGo/s1600/P1010085.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NJIMkqC8Ol_RNCTP2RVIe1RdnfLEPqWf7Xp5DQulB_AOUCdZna6bsxqsJPfQlcKP5IjW4GzoswSA_4UF29MuTzm88hRvZkeimouOAA8pPyAFBFTnPo4R3KU5b60viERq9RhEfe2WvGo/s160/P1010085.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the Diplomat Hotel in Tbilisi, Site of the Youth Forum</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-55922783897819751482011-10-23T12:42:00.002-04:002011-10-23T12:42:45.876-04:00Sakartvelo – Sunday, October 23, 2011<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Today was the last day of the Youth Forum.<span> </span>On Wednesday, we were present at the forum but did not have an active facilitating role.<span> </span>Yesterday we did one exercise in the morning and today, was the final day.<span> </span>When we agreed to be part of this gathering I had some concerns around the focus because of its subtitle “<span>Intercultural and Inter-Religious Dialogue as a Tool for Combating Hate Speech and Hate Accidents (we learned this was meant to be “Incidents”) in </span><span>Europe</span><span>”.<span> </span>As we moved into the work it was clear to Turtle and me that part of our role at the forum was to open way for questions about using a term such as “Hate Speech” and what happens when we create “the other”.<span> </span>In the closing today there was talk of needing to find a term that came from a positive place – looking at, and talking about using our positive energy to combat that which is negative; acknowledging that negative energy cannot overcome negative energy.<span> </span>There were times when I almost heard Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words in the room.<span> </span>It felt good to know that our presence was part of what moved this conversation forward.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>In our time at the Forum, we built a warm and wonderful relationship with Natia Giorgidze, the primary facilitator of the Youth Forum who, it turned out was a former </span><span>AVP</span><span> facilitator and friend of Maia’s with whom she had lost contact.<span> </span>They swore that they would not loose track of one another again!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span>It appears that what is left of our time in Sakartvelo will be a bit quieter than we’d expected.<span> </span>Tomorrow morning we will go to Maia’s daughter, Natulie’s home so that Maia will have access to a piano and be able to teach us a Georgian song.<span> </span>From there we’ll travel on for a meeting at the US Embassy at </span><span>2:00</span><span>.<span> </span>The following day we’ll do a training workshop for AVP facilitators.<span> </span>Wednesday we’re promised a day of sightseeing.<span> </span>I’m really looking forward to being out in this beautiful country.<span> </span>I suspect that we may go to places that I’ve seen before like the first capital, Mtskheta.<span> </span>It feels like I just can’t get enough!<span> </span>On the other hand, my bed, and Max the cat, are beginning to call to me.</span></div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-7165704969423216762011-10-20T13:05:00.001-04:002023-03-14T14:01:06.013-04:00Sakartvelo - First day at the Youth ForumToday was the first day of the Youth Forum. The day was devoted to using AVP exercises to bring people into community; to understand violence as a means of beginning to understand how to work toward non-violence; and to practice using the skills that we'd built during the day. Maia and I worked together to facilitate the day. Feed back at the end of the day was quite positive with the great majority sharing that they had moved past a place of national identity to a place of seeing one another as human beings and friends. Many of the participants are from countries where they are traditionally at odds with one another so this was wonderful feedback to receive.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we will return to the conference as participants for the day - being available to talk and share our experiences. The following day we will do an exercise called "Building a New Society" in the morning and our part will be complete. The coordinators of this conference are very young, predominantly women who have done a fantastic job of bringing together, in 25 participants, an incredibly diverse group and a program that leads them to, and through the problems of hate speech, hate actions, and discrimination. I am very impressed!<br />
<br />
Next week, my last here, is beginning to fill up with a visit to the American Embassy to talk about AVP and to attempt to elicit their support, will take place on Monday afternoon, and a meeting with facilitators to work on their skills will happen on Wednesday evening. Still to be scheduled a meeting with the Abkhazian High Council in Exile and a full day mini-workshop for the South Ossetians. It seems I will be busy until the very end!Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-66742539231636986442011-10-19T09:30:00.002-04:002023-03-14T14:07:18.700-04:00Sakartvelo: October 19, 2011The last two days have been a whirlwind of activity. We began Monday with a meeting with Elguja Gvazava, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia (now in exile), and another member of the Supreme Council to speak about AVP. Both men seemed quite enthusiastic and asked if we would meet with the full Supreme Council which we will do next week. I was presented with a book about Abkhazian artists which Elguja Gvazava inscribed for me.<br />
<br />
<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_Sanakoev" title="Dmitri Sanakoev"></a><br />
Next we met with Dmitri Sanakoev, President in exile of South Ossetia. I had met with him on my first visit to Sakartvelo in 2009. He remembered our visit and our discussion about the Alternatives to Violence Project and asked if we would be able to do a workshop for Ossetians during this visit. We decided to do a full day mini-workshop during our last week here.<br />
<br />
Our hosts treated us to dinner out - Kinghali, some filled with meat and others filled with cheese; Megrulian Katchapuri, baked mushrooms, Shishkabob (a fire roasted meat with salt and herbs), and Georgia's own Kesbegi Beer. Then, back to the flat to collapse into bed.<br />
<br />
I rose early yesterday morning (Tuesday) to prepare for our meeting with Alexandra Kalatozishvili, Director of Youth Union or Public Movement Multinational Georgia, one of her coleagues and Natia Giorgidze, a Board Member and Trainer for the Non-Formal Education Youth Center. I was surprised and delighted to find that Natia had been an AVP facilitator and so was familiar and very supportive of our work. We reviewed time slots and scheduling and were clear that it would not be possible to actually do a full workshop and so, on the first day we will do a series of exercises and light and livelies including an introducing myself and AVP and the transforming power talk. I will then have a day when I do not present and the third day of the Youth Forum I will do one more exercise "Building a New Society". The Youth Forum runs for four days total and I have been asked to attend all four days - The full (very long) title of this conference is "We Do Not Have Time for Silence: Inter-Cultural and Inter-Religious Dialogue as a Tool for Combating Hate Speech and Hate Accidents in Europe". The organizers have limited the number of participants to 25. Those 25 will come from Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, the UK, Russia, Italy, Romania, Hungary, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Georgia.<br />
<br />
Today I asked out hosts to please not schedule meetings for us. Instead I took the day to rest and to prepare for the Youth Forum. I worked on the schedule and timing and created the Mandala in English. I have been invited out to dinner again tonight but won't leave until 8:30PM or so.<br />
<br />
I find myself wondering about how AVP Georgia will survive without more support than my yearly to 18 month apart visits. Many, many more facilitators need to be trained here and Georgian facilitators need to reach the point where they feel competent to do that training. They need translations of the full manuals (they now only have part of the basic manual). They need to experience and be able to lead advanced workshops. <br />
<br />
Before I came to Georgia this year I had begun questioning if this year would be my last, or perhaps next year. I have health concerns and I know that the lack of sleep and the fast pace while I am here create physical stresses for me.<br />
<br />
Each morning for 45 minutes to an hour, I spend time in silent worship. As I sat in prayer yesterday morning asking for guidance it came to me that I am one person: a person who for years, in prayer, has said to God "All that I am and all that I have you have given to me. I give it all back to you to dispose of according to your good will......." I realized that I have dedicated what remains of my life to the work of peace making as I believe God has called me to do. How then can I say no to the work that I am given?Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-42913691156956059892011-10-16T13:12:00.001-04:002011-10-16T13:16:42.621-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDUCiA2cYQf1NNARaU7pfG8pYGzXrGfjbRzvjIs4lsWGVDTGeUbOhqMrzAXua1O0T2hzyTBoWpIAhmjaAeaPh52ZOkx_o6KSIVoJ5WYOU1iDuThrHUin-cQwmzKOOUOQ2UNsg3vrsHJ4/s1600/P1010009.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDUCiA2cYQf1NNARaU7pfG8pYGzXrGfjbRzvjIs4lsWGVDTGeUbOhqMrzAXua1O0T2hzyTBoWpIAhmjaAeaPh52ZOkx_o6KSIVoJ5WYOU1iDuThrHUin-cQwmzKOOUOQ2UNsg3vrsHJ4/s400/P1010009.JPG" style="clear: both; float: left; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 50% transparent; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-5310459449069223802011-10-16T13:07:00.002-04:002011-10-16T13:07:59.948-04:00Theotokos<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal">Theotokos is a word that has lived in some remote area of my mind for quite some time.<span> </span>Long enough that I had forgotten it and it’s meaning until a Friend reminded me.<span> </span>Theotokos: God-carrier.<span> </span>I was further reminded me that this term applies to all humanity.<span> </span>As Quakers this is part of our core belief – that there is that of God within each of us.<span> </span>We say this easily; almost matter of factly without stopping to grasp the immense magnitude of what we are saying.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We are God-carriers.<span> </span>What incredible trust the Divine has to allow we humans to carry even a bit of the precious Light within, knowing that some will not value that fact, some will not acknowledge it, some will simply not care, and some will do their best to extinguish it.<span> </span>Yet, God is infinite in ways far beyond our understanding – infinitely wise, infinitely loving, all knowing but even these descriptions cannot describe that which beyond human ken: unknowable, unnamable, indescribable.<span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">There are tears in my eyes as I write – tears of wonderment, of joy, of humility, of unworthiness, of thanksgiving, of gratitude.<span> </span>What could be more amazing?</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-81503412121215045352011-10-16T13:04:00.000-04:002011-10-16T13:04:12.682-04:00Sakartvelo: AVP Graduation<div class="MsoNormal">Today we graduated our first AVP workshop of this year’s stay in Sakartvelo. There were 15 participants in all – I think more men then women. The group was made up of college students and young professionals: a very bright and challenging group. It’s often difficult to get people who are curious to learn, and possibly replicate exercises to become fully invested as participants. We were pleased that by our graduation today almost all of the participants had become full vested as participants and opened to the message of transforming power within each of us. They had come to understood that they had actually tapped into their own skills to solve problems non-violently. Many had come looking for a way to help others find a way to non-violent behavior without considering the violence in there own lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">My personal leading to work for Peace is to help bring others to the understanding that the road to world Peace begins within each individual and radiates outward to our families, communities, countries, etc. I believe that before we can speak with integrity to others about making peace, we must begin to walk that path ourselves.</div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-2864623190496491142011-10-16T13:02:00.000-04:002011-10-16T13:02:20.530-04:00Minorities of Georgia AVP Workshop Graduation<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZKkrQ_9xgNoGxgY9C2VaIcLdyiB99woQK4gelICdmCzw_M-yqXL2owPaXAc9grPwRmi64X4gTQS3hmScBR5nC-6iHA4W6N7o2KJC0Jvult0Lg3gxbvnfxuyPHC8jgZKb8N2YI5njFn4/s1600/P1010042.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZKkrQ_9xgNoGxgY9C2VaIcLdyiB99woQK4gelICdmCzw_M-yqXL2owPaXAc9grPwRmi64X4gTQS3hmScBR5nC-6iHA4W6N7o2KJC0Jvult0Lg3gxbvnfxuyPHC8jgZKb8N2YI5njFn4/s400/P1010042.JPG" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1814187914460963885.post-49856555917557333372011-10-14T14:21:00.001-04:002023-03-14T14:11:03.904-04:00A good and faithful servant.........Today was the first day of our first AVP workshop. The workshop is comprised of young professional men and women from Georgian minorities - a challenging group who would like nothing better than to analyze each phase of the AVP process. I implored them to wait until our third day since each step builds upon the next. So far so good........<br />
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I am always grateful for the gifts of an AVP workshop. For those times when I get to reach deep within for experiences that may have brought me joy, or pain, or happiness: To understand my own failings and how the cycle of violence effects my life and those that I love. Yes, there is a certain selfishness that keeps my doing the work but it is also a huge gift to help others open to their own understanding and journey.<br />
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I once had someone tell me that what I call my journey to God is not really that at all: That it's really just working to try to understand myself. What I've come to realize is that listening to and learning from and about that which is indwelling is one in the same with learning about God, for God is to be found in all times and in all places - including in us unworthy human beings. And so, my journey to God is an inward journey - a path through my fears, beyond my hopes and dreams to a place where the Light of God's Love Lights my way and informs the path upon which my feet walk. In those times when I listen well there is the clear sense of God walking beside me on the path, and for that moment, I am the good and faithful servant filled with a Joy that passes human understanding. In those moments, I know why I would give all to do God's bidding.Quaker Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918973208869611159noreply@blogger.com1