Human. Humane. Humanity.

What is it in us that we so often accept conflict over compromise, power over problem-solving, and tribalism over pluralism? Further, why do world leaders (mostly men) actually promote that way of life? And can civilization move past it?

Recently, the overlap of disturbing occurrences conspired to sadden me into these questions— The life-threatening situations in Gaza and in Ukraine and in Yemen and in Haiti. The long-overdue provision of some assistance to Palestinians, and the student protests calling for divesting of investments in Israel. Netanyahu’s resistance to international calls for a cease fire, and Hamas’ admission it does not have all the missing Israeli hostages. The beginning of Jewish Passover on my 46th Earth Day wedding anniversary on the same day more children are bloodied by rockets. The disgusting details of Trump’s trial and his terrifying promise of tyranny if re-elected. Acts of Racism. Sexism. Hatred. Global Damage. It is anguishing…and exhausting.

You may feel the same betrayal of humane values. Like me, you may push it out of your mind until it all becomes an undeniable storm…

Since childhood when asthma nearly took my life, I have felt compelled to live as a source of grace. As a little girl, I befriended those who were different and found my life’s theme song in our 5th grade school program that closed with the newly written “Let The Be Peace On Earth.” I endured the Southern cruelties of school integration and stood up to racists as a teenager. I chose Earth Day for my wedding in a field of wildflowers, inspired toward environmentalism by reading "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.” A feminist in a culture of male bigotry and violence, I have voted my progressive beliefs, read outspoken writers, played peace songs on my guitar, cofounded an annual local peace festival, given peace orations, and written and published dozens of peace poems. Still, none of it has been enough.

Now moving past midlife, my frustration with the world’s resistance to peace is consuming. These days, “peacemaking” is met with ridicule — or worse, contempt. Still, I still believe in the way of peace and the power of words, especially heartfelt ones, and so this week’s Poet with a Press Pass post is a prayerful poem called “Oh, Shalom.”

The Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam calls followers to “repair the world,” and the soulful poet Gregory Orr echoes that phrase in saying our job is to keep the world going. My own mission statement for InSpiritry, the umbrella for my writing and speaking, is “Putting Words to Work for a Better World.” All these share the idea of taking action to heal the hurting. Grace. Compassion. Courage.

As we go forward, please join me in recommiting our energies to the essence of the peace. We might begin with the lovely traditional congregational greeting:

Peace Be With You. And Also With You. Amen.