Author: Breeze Richardson
Last night the Gathering seemed to shift (ever-so-slightly) in a new direction with the keynote plennary address by Alexie M. Torres Fleming. Founder of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice in the South Bronx, her personal story and life lessons were most welcome.
Even with her faith-based approach, her storytelling was very accessible and her groundedness in a very Quaker-like place – “that of God [Good] in everyone” – was a message she delivered in a humble, believable way. “You can’t wait for a miracle; you are the miracle.” “Work in your own backyard; you don’t have to travel halfway around the world to make a difference.” and “You cannot redeem what you do not assume.” were all powerful messages, especially in this context that has been a lot about talking and little about action, resources & next steps.
But to keep a clear spirit-led edge to my experience here, I think the “life lesson” Alexie shared that struck me the most was her clear belief that as she would be willing to, without question, give her life for one of her children – she asked us: what would it be like to feel that for all children? All people?
As a mom (of a two-year old little boy), and six-months pregnant with my second son, I heard this question in a new Light. I know without hestitation the love I feel for my child. To feel that for all humanity? What would that committment to relationship and community honestly mean?
PS: My long-time Friend, Chuck Fager, Director of Quaker House in Fayetteville, NC, is also here at the Gathering & writing nightly about his experiences. Visit: A Friendly Letter to read more about what he’s discovering, including what he took away from Alexie’s talk last night…
Hi Breeze —
Alexie’s presentation was the plenary high point for me, as I noted in my last blog post.
But mostly, the programming here has been a bust for me. It is startling to think that so many could have labored so long on the planning committee yet produced so little of compelling quality, and left so little space for the attenders to take control of the event.
The networking on the edges is what will be the takeaway so far. I’ll have more to say about that on my blog, and I promise I’ll see if I can figure out how to enable comments there.
One of the best “takeaways” (Chuck’s phrase) from the conference was that Breeze was sent there by our Yearly Meeting (recommended to the Clerk by Peace Resources Committee last summer) and immediately thought up this present vehicle for sharing her excitement and vision. That will be seen to be of lasting benefit.
Bit by bit the rest of the P.R.C. committee is getting the feel of using the blogging mechanism (which I confess is sometimes a stretch for me, but like any communication medium can be used elegantly or clumsily, for good or ill.) It is now linked to our yearly meeting’s website (www.ilym.org) under the “Committees” tab and then under “Peace Resources” — which I invite people to have a look around.
That particular set of links began in the earliest days of the committee, when we were organizing draft and military counseling workshops, and this was a handy way to propagate more of the materials than printing out everything and taking home an even bulkier packet. Thanks to our first committee clerk Elizabeth, for having the techno-savvy to set that up and work with our Webservant Dawn — even as Breeze has been doing currently — to share our collective publishing power.
So, regardless of how Chuck felt at the time, I’m willing — sight unseen, as a non-attender — to give high marks to an event that could inspire local action as this particular one apparently has done for Breeze… to our greater edification!
Dear David –
What kind words.
I was honored to represent our community by attending and hope all who gathered (and those they’ve shared the experience with since) gained some insight that might help foster a greater understanding of how to work for peace.