Non-Violence: More Than A Tool

Non-violence: Can It Be A Way of Life?

“Who do you say I am?” That is the question asked by Jesus in the Biblical text that we as Christians read. But, for me the question is “Who do you say you are?” Is non-violence your tool? Is it your way of life? Is non-violence possible in every as aspect of your life? Can you (more importantly ‘we’) be non-violent in a violent world? I believe that the answer is unequivocally, “Yes, if you know who you are.”

Brother Roger knew who he was. He was a disciple of peace. Founder of the Taizé Community (a community of peacebuilders who graced the world with its fortitude towards non-violence), Brother Roger committed his life to non-violence. Earlier this month he was fatally stabbed in the middle of a service of 2,500 people. The horror of it must be etched in the hearts of those individuals who witnessed it, but it should be etched in our hearts as well as we commit ourselves more fervently to the cause of peace ─ through non-violence.

Can there be any other way?

Last month on The Peace Hour (heard on KPFT, 90.1 FM in Houston, Texas), I had the honor of having Atul Kothari on with me. Atul is the founder of the Gandhi Library where the center strives to promote the work of Gandhi. The show’s content was on non-violence. Now, often when I have guest, I don’t take call-ins. Not that I don’t want to hear from the audience (I do), but with only one hour, lots of information to impart, sometimes it is impractical. But, on non-violence, I’m concerned that we aren’t hearing each other and my audience usually gives me the needed fuel for driving the point home of where we are and how we are faring when it comes to non-violence. It is important to HEAR each other. I strive to make ‘hearing’ an important component to most of the Peace Hour shows.

Callers ran the gamut of what happens when non-violence is discussed. One person wanted to know how we get to a place of non-violence in a violent world. A very astute question because if you are going to believe in non-violence, it is probably the hardest obstacle to overcome – our violent world. One caller responded that non-violence was a gray area to which we aspire, but that there were key areas of black and white that keep us from committing to it. He served the question to Atul of ‘what would he do if someone broke into his house to rape his wife or daughter?’ He emphatically announced that he would respond with violence.

One of our major obstacles to overcome is how we respond to violence. It is said that if you live by the sword, you will die by the sword. That doesn’t seem to make sense in the questions being asked by individuals who want to know why a man dedicated to non-violence didn’t die peacefully in his sleep. To take up the banner of non-violence does not insure that violence won’t land at your door, but it does promise that you have done all you can to alleviate the violence that lands at our doorsteps every day.

This is a sidebar, but I feel it must be said, so … of course … I’ll say it. Someone asked, “If God is everywhere, why doesn’t God end the suffering of the world?” I never really have an answer for this because it clouds my own thoughts and prayers. "God fix this!" I demand and the great energy of God … Truth … that flows through each of us, answers. I hear God say, “I AM here!” and “Your suffering is my suffering.” And on the heel of those two statements, I hear, “What will you do to end the suffering of humanity and God?”

So, there it is. It is in our hands. God guides, instructs and inspires. Just as I as a parent hope to impart the great wisdom of my experiences to my children in order to alleviate their suffering, they can choose … choose to become who they are in that moment they are faced with a challenge.

We must take each day to fortify ourselves to be ready for those moments. The man who acknowledged that he would respond with violence has already set the course should that day arrive. The man of non-violence, however, who practices non-violence on a daily basis, will be ready … even if he does not survive. Brother Roger’s death tells me that.

Don’t we get it? It takes time, work, dedication and commitment. It takes a constant vigil to be ready to respond and there are many stories to attest to the fact that non-violence CHANGES things.

A story that has made the run through emails is shared here. The names may be different because while I believe the story is said to be true, I don’t remember the names used. However, I remember the story well. The names may not be the same … but what it imparts is.

Clark was a man who lived in the Brooklyn neighborhood most of his life. He married and raised his children in this neighborhood and he was a good neighbor and a good man. When his wife died, Clark knew that he had to keep busy. His children were grown, scattered around the United States and while he kept in touch, he knew he needed a day-to-day busyness to survive the loss of his beloved wife. He went to the neighborhood church he attended and asked permission to tend the yard and gardens. It was accepted gratefully.

Over time, Clark drew the attention of a group of young men who spent their time harassing and terrorizing their elderly neighbors. Clark wasn’t a feeble or weak man, having served in the military, but every time the boys would come, grab his hose and wet him down or kick the newly tilled soil, Clark would brush himself off and when they left, laughing loudly down the walk, continue with his work. He almost seemed unaffected by their taunts, jeers and harassment. He never called them names or threatened them.

One day the boys took it a step further. This day they decided that they would do more than taunt or harass him. They would steal from him. They threw him down this time, drawing blood and then proceeded to steal his wallet. As they were leaving, one of the young men looked back and saw Clark, once again, brush himself off and continue with his work in the garden.

Two days later as Clark was working on his hands and knees in his garden, he saw the young man standing over him. He rose, once again to accept the onslaught, but this time it was different. The young man handed Clark his wallet.

“It’s all there,” he said. “Including the money.”

“Why?” Clark asked.

“I don’t know,” the young man replied shyly. “I see you out here ever day making this church here look good. You seem to love what you do.” He went on. “You could respond like the others do, calling us thugs or worse. But, each time we do something to you, you go back to what you’re doing. You ain’t even called the cops. I should be asking you ‘why?’”

Clark just smiled. “You.”

Now without taking up too much of your reading time, suffice to say, Clark and the young man became friends. Clark taught ‘Sam’ how to take a seedling and make it grow. He taught him about the earth and how it gives back. Over time, Sam got a job, found a wife and had a child. One day he doesn’t find Clark at his usual place. He goes and inquires about his whereabouts. The Pastor reports to Sam that just the night before Clark died peacefully in his sleep. Sam turns and walks down the walk to his apartment. His heart heavy.

The next morning, Sam shows up to the Church, garden tools in an apron on his hip. He tells the Pastor, “I believe this job is mine.”

This job is ours. Peace is possible. In Houston as we assist evacuees from the Katrina wrath, we run into individuals so angry, frustrated, and tired they don’t seem to ‘appreciate’ all that we do. They lash out and sometimes they hurt others. But, it is our job to be ready for that moment. When our response is one of non-violence, we make a difference. It changes things. I believe because I have to.

Blessings of peace and non-violence, P.K.


For more information on how to offer your individual condolences to the Taize Comunity: http://www.taize.fr/ and to read about this tragedy, go to http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/Brother-Roger-Taize.htm?source=DailyDig

For information on how you can help the Katrina Evacuees, especially to underserved areas in the Houston area, go to: www.shrinebookstore.comhelpnowihtml or www.shape.org, two organizations that work with many of the smaller (and unknown) churches and organizations in our area.

Join the Dance of Peace

Let us dance for peace!--Photo by B. Hartford

You'll find over time that somewhere deep in my psyche I believe. I mean, I really believe. I get discouraged and disappointed, but deep down inside -- I believe. I believe in the dance of life and I believe that when we truly start embracing each other and dancing with each other, the music of peace will fill our hearts and minds and we will dance!

This picture was taken by a friend of peace of me dancing with another friend of peace. Now what I want you to do is look at the picture closely. What do you see? In fact, I'd like to have you tell me a story! Tell me what the picture says to you. Be brave. Be creative. Be free. And I bet this picture tells you a story of peace --- and the dance.

I look forward to your story of peace. Namaste'