The Blessedness of Everlasting Light
Beautitudinem lucem sempiternam
The blessedness of everlasting light
Salve Amici!
I blog in peace.
We had the first of our Half Day Seminars yesterday in Durban. Restoring the Template. Revolution is not so much about doing new things, but it is about restoring things to the way they should be. And that is our pursuit: that justice is accomplished reconciliatorily, restoratively and non-adversarially.
Our ultimate pursuit is peace.
We live in a crazy world right? And I won’t subject you to my views on how crazy it really is and how the agenda of mass media is to dumb us down.
My friend, Luke Holden quouted Mario Murillo yesterday as saying: “You cant stop a child of God who know’s what’s going on.”
We need to be truth seekers and not naive to the extent of evil in the world. And it’s extensive. But I also profoundly believe in the increase of goodness and I fervently hold on to the blessedness of everlasting light. Beautitudinem lucem sempiternam
Of the increase of His government and peace, there shall be no end
-Isaiah
I have been chilling with the writings of Milton, Chesterton and Tolstoy over the past week. Chesterton begins his book What’s Wrong with the World by saying that “What’s wrong with the world is that we don’t ask what is right with the world”
I am committed to seeking out the good, inclining my intention on that and watching it increase. My own particular brand of doing that is by bringing back resonance with non-adversarial processes, like mediation to accomplish peace and justice.
Yesterday’s half day seminar was amazing. It really was. The purpose behind these seminars is to up the conversation around what we are doing and inspire government, civil society, the private sector and individuals to favour non-adversarial ways of dealing with all conflict, be it in their families, schools, businesses or workplaces. We had the most amazing group who contributed such profound insights to our efforts in bridge-building.
The way I see it, these seminars will inspire us at three different levels. One, to change the way we deal with conflict in our daily lives. Two, to become a part of helping others settle disputes non-adversarially by becoming mediators or just using mediation skills to assist others. Three, to become part of the freakin revolution! If you join us at this level, you get a beret! No really.
One of the most powerful starting points in conflict resolution and peacemaking, aside from restoring honour, as I have written much of before, is to demonstrate to parties in conflict the existence of other options. In conflict, we generally assume a position and so “resolving” the conflict is about asserting our own position and being attached to the win.
True peacemaking, true justice restores both parties, yes even the wrongdoer, or the poor choice maker, to where they should be. This is generally accomplished through creative solutioning.
Bill Johnson says that every four year old is an artist. And then they go to school. We need to foster the creative genius that is intrinsic in our kids. That exists in us all. It is not too late! It is creative minds that open businesses, employ people, solve life’s problems. We need to value creative genius. We are created in the image of the Creator Himself. We must honour that.
Upcoming seminars half day in Johannesburg on the 20th and Cape Town on the 25th. Please email adr@mediatorsa.co.za to join us.
Also, please keep up to date with us on our facebook page and our You Tube channel. Keep watching for our series of videos on Access to Justice and the role of Mediation.
Please send me your comments. I really love hearing from you. This week we move into offices with DreamCo which is producing our videos, our upcoming talkshow and The Influence Project. Drew McGibbon, Creative Director of DreamCo is creative genius at it’s finest.
Until next time, victory is certain. No surrender! No retreat!
If you wish to train as a mediator or arbitrator, or you wish to refer a dispute, please email adr@mediatorsa.co.za
Peace!
Sheena
Twitter @sheena_ostjon, @drewmcgibbon, @in_fluence
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