Advent Day Twenty-One: Be Still
December 21, 2012Advent Day Twenty-Three:
December 23, 2012Be the change you wish to see in the world, is a widely shared and proclaimed quote attributed to Gandhi, and one that I keep in my heart. There’s no proof that Gandhi actually said it, although it may evolve from this phrase also attributed to him: If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.
One thing Gandhi did know, as do many spiritual, political and other leaders know, is that one person cannot change anything. One person can help steer this change, but it is only by steadily working together that true and radical change can happen.
How can we as Americans work together to protect our children, our families, our friends and co-workers? Is installing armed guards in all our schools the answer? (No.) Is criminalizing guns the answer? (Maybe.) What about gun control? (Yes!) Where do love and compassion fit into this discussion?
In the past couple of days, I talked deeply with a couple different people about the role of art in affecting change–how it can memorialize tragic, awful events; become a subtle or not-so-sublte call to action or bring to the light the difficult inequalities and injustices in the world. Much of the work I create quietly invites the viewer to reflect. These conversations challenge me to consider how I might find ways to incorporate this change I want to see in the world more overtly in the work I create. How can I utilize my many resources to encourage a path towards peace for all humanity? I don’t have any answers right now, but my mind is teeming with questions.
Today’s collage features 28 little stars, for the little souls and the adults in their lives who lost their lives so horribly last week in Sandy Hook Elementary school tragedy. May we remember and come together in memory and in action.
Advent Day Twenty-Two
2 Comments
Yes, they are all stars. And we must remember to watch them shine for us- so that we can light the path to Change, Creating a Culture of peace begins with each and every one of us-24/7. Let us remember teachers, like the ones who stood in front of a gunman to protect their little students, teachers like Gandhi, teachers JUST LIKE you & me who give our whole hearts over to our students each and every day. Our conversation boosted my happiness, as does your starry collage today! Namaste. Light and Love, karen
Thank you Karen!
Thank you for reminding me and you of our roles as teachers, and how we both give so much to our students, our community and to ourselves. Here’s to light and love and courage to do what we can. xo