Thank you, Michael.

 

I continue to admire and deeply respect your capacity for focusing and reframing the dynamics of our world.

 

I awoke yesterday morning in tears, feeling loneliness and isolation at the core of my being… questioning the work I do and the worldview I struggle to clearly articulate. By the time I got to the gym, anger and fear had surfaced. Fortunately, the bench press was unattended! Nobody was going to get in my way!

 

As I lifted heavier weights than I had ever lifted before, I began the process of reaching deeper into my being…hoping to touch peace and respect. A part of me wanted to retreat…to “hole up” in the safety of isolation. Another part of me understood that the core of the work to which we are committed is community and connectedness.

 

When I came home from the gym, I checked my email.  Your message was there, inspiring me to make the connections and helping me to remember what it is we are all about. (I even crawled through piles of books to reread bell hooks!)

 

I am teaching a course in the school counseling program at the University of Arizona this semester. Several of the students have contacted me struggling with the dissonance of the past few days. I want to share your message with the students when we meet on Tuesday, using it as part of the healing process.  On Wednesday, The Islamic Student Association at the University of Arizona is facilitating a discussion sponsored by the International Center for Peace. The discussion will focus on directions for peace as we move forward. I want to take what you have re-sparked in me to this discussion.

 

As you may know, much of my work is with men who have been traumatized. In the past few days, the dynamics of trauma have re-emerged. We have work to do. Hopefully, we will all be able to work through our responses to our world, continuing to create and sharing  energy for the work of peace.

 

Thank you, again!

 

Peace,

 

Michael