justice, peace, care

On this 5th anniversary of the Iraq War … 

“How to Live a Peaceful Life” by John Dear, SJ
(click the link at end to read more)
 
FIRST – Become a contemplative of peace and nonviolence.
The only way to deepen in nonviolence is through prayer. We need to become contemplatives and mystics of peace, people who sit with the God of peace, who take intimate time each day for our relationship with the God of peace, who allow the God of peace to disarm our hearts of our violence and the wars within us so that we can be disarmed and become people of nonviolence …
 
SECOND – Become an activist of peace and nonviolence.
Oscar Romero said, “None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something.” Every one of us is needed in the grassroots movement for justice and peace. Every one of us has something to offer … 

THIRD – Become a student and teacher of peace and nonviolence.
Study the writings of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. King and Dorothy Day and the movements of nonviolence in history. Learn the methodology of nonviolence as a way for social change. Then, start teaching the techniques and lessons of nonviolence to everyone, everywhere … 

FOURTH – Become a visionaries of peace and nonviolence.
… Lift up the vision of a new world of nonviolence. Point the way. Help lead others back from the brink of violence, and imagine their lives, their communities and the world as a place of peace, justice and nonviolence.
 
FIFTH — Become, like Dr. King and Gandhi, a prophet of peace and nonviolence.
Break through the silence, complicity and acceptance of our culture of war, denounce the false spirituality of violence and speak out publicly the truth of peace and nonviolence. Say the unpopular truth[s] …

(read more at How to Live a Peaceful Life)