Like many people these days, I am very troubled and desperate about the outbreak of a new war. People die, landscapes and cities are devastated – and our collective attention shifts to the daily news of destructive acts creating hurt, aggression, the feeling of despair and impotence. What can we do in this mess, what can we contribute to give peace a chance?
We can stand together and show solidarity for the victims of the violence.
We can engage ourselves to support the ones suffering directly from violence and injustice.
We can pray.
We can look into ourselves for structures of violence sabotaging peace.
From the triple watershed at Klepáč mountain at the Czech-Polish border there came a touching resonance to my thoughts on peace these days. Michal Kristynek, engaging himself in the protection of nature’s resources in the region, was hiking to the sources around the triple watershed of Labe/Elbe (North Sea), Odra/Oder (Baltic Sea) and Danube (Black Sea). The area has itself seen many violent conflicts during the last centuries, the mountains are covered with bunkers of World War II. At the springs of Orlice, Nysa and Morava, Michal collected spring water and said a prayer in the directions of flow, asking for peace in Europe.
On his way, Michal reflected on the meaning of the Czech word “odpustit” – “to forgive” and shared his thoughts with me.
“Odpustit” literally means to release, let go, and is also used in the context of releasing water from a vessel holding it. To release – not to hold back – to let flow of hurt, hatred and all hindrances within us which sabotage free and peaceful interaction is a helpful watery metaphor to understand a crucial aspect of peacemaking.
The three samples of spring water Michal collected are now already in my hands – and by their sparkling purity they remind me of the abundance of clear water flowing to all lifeforms on this earth, a connecting element of healing and peace. May the water we drink remind us of the possibility – and the need – of peace every day.
#onebodyofwater #oneearth #waterconnectsus #givepeaceachance