From Peace to Poison: and the Small Things That Offer Hope
From Peace to Poison: and the Small Things That Offer Hope
My family and I had the great privilege and honour of meeting His Holiness Pope Francis a few weeks ago.
People might expect that this would be a solemn occasion, one of quiet reflection.
Holding my youngest daughter in my arms, my wife at my side, the experience was bathed in warmth, smiles and a certain kind of peace that comes only when you ‘step off the world’ for a moment or two. It is an experience we will all treasure.
Love is the word that springs to mind. That and being thankful for what I have, and for what I can do to help others toward their own slice of peace.
I write at the end of a week defined by violence and death at a mosque thousands of miles from our shores. Ordinary people of faith, going about their business, having conversations with friends and family and taking a moment to centre themselves and reaffirm their commitment to leading a good life.
New Zealand doesn’t usually feature in reports of mass shootings at mosques, temples or churches. In some ways it sits outside the geography of terror. It’s just that bit too far away.
That changed, people died. Children died.
Here in the UK one man wondered what he could do to help. He was just one man. He found a piece of cardboard and a marker pen, he wrote on his piece of card, folded it up, got his coat and headed off to the local mosque.
When Andrew Greystone arrived he unfolded his piece of card. It said ‘You are my friends. I will keep watch while you pray.’
He stood outside during Friday prayers, unaware that the imam of the mosque had commended him during the service.
After the service he was surrounded by hundreds of people. People thanking him, blessing him and saying their faith in humanity was restored.
It was one small thing. But it was a very big thing. That piece of card said it all, and his willingness to stand up for his friends and neighbours lit up social media.
People are being persecuted for their beliefs, for their faith, Christian, Muslim, Jewish. People are being persecuted for the colour of their skin.
My question is why?
What possible reason is there to think ill of someone who is trying to do the right thing, to live a good life. What difference does it make that the colour their hair, eyes or skin is different from ours.
We have to work together, we have to live together. We have been sharing this planet since our time on it began, and still we’re not there yet. Finding pointless reasons to hate is not something that we’re born with, it’s something we learn. Children learn by example: we are all teachers.
