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For Such a Time as This
Greetings, Friends. The last few weeks have just been awful with war raging between Hamas and Israel; with thousands of civilians being killed, many of them children; with health care facilities in Gaza facing power outrages, lack of fuel, lack of water, and lack of food; with millions of people driven from their homes and an entire region concerned about safety.
Julie Davis, S&P's Editorial and Program Director, shares how she has tried to practice compassion in her response to this complex situation. What she has heard repeatedly from different sides of the conflict is that “There is only one side to this story.” She admits that she understands this impulse, but she invites all of us to resist the single or one-sided story, and embrace complexity as a tool of peace. "I invite complexity because it is the opposite of propaganda, which flattens our spiritual being, threatening compassion and justice alike. Let us commit to holding many truths to be self-evident."
For such a time as this, spiritual practices are needed. Julie encourages us to do a meditation for peace, watch a visual version of Thich Nhat Hanh's "Please Call Me by My True Names," try practices to hold unity amidst differences, reflect on peace quotes, and utter peace prayers.
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