PEACE SUNDAY

Yesterday was Peace Sunday - a day of prayer and concern for world peace. During the day I was drawn to look once again at a book on my shelves that I hadn't looked at for several years. "The Road to Peace" edited by John Dear. It is a collection of material written by Henri Nouwen a Christian Contemplative Spiritual writer from last century. he is particularly known like Thomas Merton for making the abslute connection between spirituality and social justice. His own personal commitment is demonstrated by the fact that he went on the March on Selma for Black equality and civil liberties in 1965 and by attending the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. I opened the book at this piece which touched me deeply. Having heard about someone experiencing a real joy he wrote:

When I heard these words for the first time, I felt a deep jealousy. I wanted that joy so much for myself, but had not found it among the scholars, teachers and students with whom I have spent most of my time. I was suddenly struck by how sombre and sad my friends and I are. We have enough food and shelter and more than enough health care and education , but are we living joyful lives? Why are we so serious all the time, so intense, so preoccupied with the next thing to accomplish, so disappointed after a small setback, so apprehensive when we are not being noticed, so angry when we are rejected, and so deeply sad when life is not going as we had planned it? When we are entangled in many complex issues, sadness can indeed imprison us and further remove us from the joy we so much desire..... We need to say a joyful "yes" to life.