Concordia Year of Peace

The Strongest People

2010-03-27T19:21:00.002-05:00

March 26, 2010: The strongest people I’ve ever known, by Brenton Phillips

March 26, 2010 by Sarah

I had just handed the cashier a 20-dollar bill for gasoline and a bag of ranch-flavored CornNuts at the Coastal Mart at Ninth and Crawford in Salina. As I waited for change, I noticed a jar next to the register. Taped to it was a photocopied picture of a pretty blond lady and words asking for donations for the children of Coastal Mart employee Mary Rains, who had been abducted from a store in Garden City a few nights earlier. I had read of the murder in the Salina Journal. Her kidnapper drove her to a county road and shot her in the head. After killing Mary, he abducted and killed another convenience store employee.

I dropped my change into the jar, sad for Mary Rains and her family. Then I went about my life.

That was more than 20 years ago, July 1989. A few days later I phoned Mom and Dad — my weekly check-in with the folks back in Dodge City. One regular part of our conversation was Mom’s “obituary report,” which she always began with, “Do you remember. . .?” or “Did you know. . .?” Usually the dead were ushers I knew from church, grandparents of a long lost friend in grade school, one of Dad’s physical therapy patients, etc. Often, I didn’t really remember them; they had become hazy memories lost in the mist of years gone by.

“Did you know Mary Rains?” asked Mom.

“Mary Rains? Yeah, she was that clerk who was killed in Garden City the other day. Awful thing.”

“Yes. Do you remember Mary Hessman?”

“Sure. She was in Brad’s class. I didn’t really know her that well but — wait a minute. Are you telling me Mary Hessman is Mary Rains?”

Rains is Mary’s married name.

I wasn’t unfamiliar with the deaths of young people — two cousins, my own sister Michelle — but this was something new. I had never known a murder victim.

Bob and Ruth Hessman, Mary’s parents, are farmers who go to our church. Their children were in my siblings’ classes at Sacred Heart Grade School and Dodge City High School. My sisters were in the same 4-H club. Growing up, we saw the Hessmans nearly every Sunday at Mass. But I hadn’t seen any of them for years.

Now the change I had dropped into that jar seemed paltry, inadequate.

Mary’s killer, Gregg Braun, was eventually caught, but not before he inflicted a tremendous amount of suffering on others. After Garden City, he went on a killing spree in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico before he was finally stopped.

In July 2000, the state of Oklahoma executed Braun by lethal injection. He was the quintessential If-Anyone-Deserves-To-Die poster child. Before he died, he spoke the names of his victims and asked for forgiveness.

Bob and Ruth Hessman didn’t see Braun die, although as family of a victim they were entitled to. On the night of his execution, they were in Great Bend at a prayer vigil for the soul of their daughter’s killer. At one point between the murders and his execution, Braun had asked for forgiveness, and Bob and Ruth — after much anger, grief and pain — gave it to him. They did what many of us find to be nearly impossible for even the slightest wrongs done to us: Forgive? A killer? That’s asking too much.

Some thought the Hessmans were fools. Others were awed by their strength. How does one even begin to forgive such a heinous act? How can one possibly find peace after such impossible horror? Didn’t they want revenge?

Revenge — endlessly promoted in countless books and movies and TV shows — should bring lasting peace to the aggrieved, but countless examples show it rarely does.

In the short story “Killings” by Andre Dubus (made into the film “In the Bedroom”), a father kidnaps his son’s killer, shoots him and buries him in the woods. The father does not find the peace he desires; instead, at the end, he has isolated himself from his other children, who can never know what he has done lest they become accomplices. You get the sense that his act of vengeance will always hover over him; the peace he sought through vengeance will elude him.

I can’t speak for the families of Braun’s other victims. I dare not be so presumptuous. But Bob and Ruth Hessman found a way to peace through forgiveness. It wasn’t an easy road, no sentimental “ABC Sunday Night Movie” in which problems are solved easily and dissolved neatly. But they found peace.

As I was writing the rough draft of this piece last November, Mom called. During our talk, she asked, “Do you remember Ruth Hessman?”

I sure do. I always will.

Ruth and her husband Bob discovered that peace can come before we die, no matter what tragedies befall us. And that forgiveness is a requirement for peace. Ruth and Bob are the strongest people I’ve ever known. May we all find such strength.

— Brenton Phillips chairs the English-Communications Department at Cloud County Community College.

on the reverence of life

2010-03-27T19:20:00.002-05:00

March 19, 2010: Springtime reflections on the reverence of life, by Sister Regina Ann Brummel

March 19, 2010 by Sarah

Recently while driving from western Kansas, I mentally reviewed presentations I had just made to parish groups regarding justice for the poor and the most vulnerable.

Along the way, I noticed definite signs of spring; trees were showing signs of leafing, and birds were returning in formation to their nesting grounds. I remembered my childhood days when whole families collaborated in the work of preparing the earth for spring planting.

I’ve always reverenced this season of promise and growth, and hope that others can experience creation’s renewal with the same excitement.

The beauty and goods of the earth are meant as the Creator’s gifts for all to share. There is much talk today about reverencing creation.

I believe this must involve more than just basking in creation’s beauty. It implies the challenging work of collaborating with one another in a communal covenant for justice, working to protect the health of the environment and that of all who inhabit the planet today and in the future.

I, like many others, am concerned about climate change, fossil fuel depletion, industrialized agriculture and the scarcity of fresh water. I believe these concerns reflect our desire for right relationships with one another, creation, and the Creator.

True reverence for life implies action to sustain it, to prevent abuse and exploitation, to protect and nourish it. This planet we share, for which we are stewards, is vulnerable in much the same way as are the poor and vulnerable humans among us.

Reverence for all of life begins with the conviction that environmental health is a human right. All humans have the right to peace and a healthy environment. Careless exploitation of natural resources and the environment degrades quality of life. Because our global interdependence today raises questions of justice, we need to promote attitudes and policies that will create responsible relationships toward one another and the environment of our shared world. This implies a willingness to engage in positive civic discourse, reverencing one another in the process.

Often the poor and the vulnerable depend on those of us who have voices to speak for them, to bring about the just peace that can germinate and grow new life and beauty among humans and throughout the planet, which is also vulnerable in many places.

Voices for justice may be those of teachers who instill in their students respect for themselves, one another and people around the globe. They may be voices of parents who encourage healthy food choices for their children, or of scientists and medical professionals who promote affordable health care for all. Those who protest the proliferation of nuclear weapons or inappropriate genetic modification of organisms are looking toward the welfare of future generations and the earth.

Spring is the season for reverencing new life. The beautiful signs of new growth can inspire us to hold ourselves accountable to work as partners with the Creator in sustaining life and visioning just peace for all life.

— Sister Regina Ann Brummel lives in Concordia and is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph Leadership Council.

'Poverty 101' workshop, March 31

2010-03-13T08:24:00.000-06:00

The Concordia civic community and 'Concordia Year of Peace' is gearing up for "Poverty 101" March 31, 2010. This event is sponsored by Cloud County Community College's 'Cook Lecture Series.'

The presenter, Dr. Donna Beegle, will be presenting on the causes of poverty in our society, how to overcome generational poverty, and how to communicate and work with people who are living in generational poverty.

The workshop is in two parts. The day session will be from 9 am to 2 pm at Nazareth Motherhouse at 13th and Washington in Concordia. This session has a cost of $20 dollars and includes the noon meal. This session is for professionals who work with people living in poverty.

The evening session will be held at the Brown Grand Theatre and is open to and free for the general public and is a part of the Cook Lecture Series. Dr. Beegle will be sharing about her experience and her opportunities.

Posted by:
Sr. Julie Christensen- Blog Editer

2010-03-13T08:02:00.002-06:00

March 12, 2010: We can find the season of peace — if we choose to, by Krystal Spangler

March 12, 2010 by Sarah

Each of us can find peace in our life.

We can come to a sense of belonging, when we quit fighting who we are. We find our peace when we learn to be happy with what we have, and when we become comfortable with who we are.

The dictionary defines peace as being freed from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; a state of tranquility or serenity.

Each of us has our own testament of what that definition means in our life.

A financially struggling parent finds her peace when she lets go of her troubles, maybe for just one day or possibly for the rest of her life, and enjoys the peace she finds in her family. A teenager finds peace when he forgets what his peers are saying about him at school and decides to live his life based on his own beliefs and values. A college student finds peace when she leave the protection and guidance of her parents’ home and develops her own abilities and morals.

No two people ever face the same exact circumstances with the same exact life experience, so each person’s state of peace is unique. Each person has to undergo his or her own changes and realizations to bring about a state of serenity.

Change can bring peace, but finding peace does not always bring change. An uptight businesswoman lets go of her need to control everything around her. She accepts her need for perfection as her own imperfection. The perfectionist comes to terms with her outrageous denial of mistakes. She obtains a state of tranquility because she’s able to accept herself for who she is. It doesn’t necessarily bring about change that everyone can see, but it gives her a happiness that she may not have had before.

Accepting yourself and not fighting who you are is the best way to find peace. Once you find peace, you do not always stay in a state of tranquility. People move in and out of peace, finding it at different times, leaving it at others.

Just as there are different seasons of life, so there are different times of peace.

Sometimes people must leave their state of rest in order to face obstacles or change from outside factors. If they’re lucky, though, they’ll find it again. Peace is not necessarily permanent — but it’s always possible.

— Krystal Spangler is a student at Cloud County Community College.

‘unconditional respect'

2010-03-13T08:01:00.002-06:00

March 5, 2010: All generations can benefit from ‘unconditional respect,’ by Crystal Paredes

March 5, 2010 by Sarah

“I treat others how they treat me.” So said a young man I know when asked recently about his thoughts on respect.

I questioned him, even going so far as correcting what I thought might have been an error. I hoped he meant, “I treat others how I want to be treated.” We all know this is the golden rule.

He was quick to respond that he meant what he said the first time.

Quite honestly, in my work over the last 10 years with young men and women, I am seeing more of a generation gap when it comes to the topic of respect.

The general rules that apply to my generation and those older are that you show respect for your elders. You also show respect for certain positions (police officers and teachers, for example) even if you dislike the person. These rules have worked well for generations.

As a child, I showed respect knowing someday I would grow to an age where others would show me respect and maybe hold a position where I could demand it.

Here’s the rub: The younger generations are being taught that in order to get respect you must give it. I know this because I have taught it to many. It is a great concept and one intended to teach children to make the first move in showing respect, but they don’t always do that.

In addition, a problem occurs when concepts such as “respect must be earned” are floating around to muddy the water.

The older generations are expecting respect and sometimes demanding it and if not given, judgment on the younger generation is quickly doled out. The younger generation is waiting to be shown respect, even when they are the ones in the wrong. They are looking for that example from adults first because they have been taught that respect must first be given in order to be received. When it isn’t first given or it hasn’t been earned in their estimation, they then have a logical excuse to not give any back. Thus, “I treat others how they treat me.”

Is it starting to make your head swim a little? It does mine. Here is my suggestion.

Several years ago, I was introduced to the concept of “unconditional respect” through the book “Love and Respect” by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. This is a book for married couples but the concept of unconditional respect could be translated to all mankind.

It’s not an easy concept because it is so foreign in our culture.

What is unconditional respect? It is the ability to treat each other respectfully without conditions: without preconceived expectations, without debating if the person has earned it or not, without judging age, race, social status, disability, etc.

If we could each implement this concept in our own lives first by way of our facial expressions, body language, tone of voice, and the words/actions we choose, we could role model it for future generations. Our social climate would rapidly improve.

Starting today, I will show respect to everyone I meet regardless of their age, no matter how they have wronged me, whether respect is returned, and even if I fail to agree with them or the choices they make — not because of who they are but because it is who I am. I will show respect to everyone in order to show reverence to God for each life he has created.

— Crystal Paredes is the Children’s Minister at First Christian Church in Concordia. She also works with the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas.

Disarming the Heart

2010-03-02T19:31:00.002-06:00

Feb. 26, 2010: ‘Disarming the heart’ means replacing negatives with positive action, by Kaleb Pounds

I think kids in this generation don’t understand that staying out of trouble makes it a lot easier to succeed. The idea of “disarming the heart” means to me that you don’t get into a lot of trouble or affect the people surrounding you negatively. We all need to keep in mind that when we do something hurtful or wrong, it affects the people who care about us.

Common examples of doing the wrong thing include pressuring people into drinking alcohol or doing drugs. The result can be getting in trouble with the law and even winding up in jail. No one’s heart is “disarmed” when these kinds of things happen.

If you are one of those people who consistently do the wrong thing, there are many positive things you can do instead. How about joining a sport at school or other productive school activity? You could even stay after school to help others and finish your own work.

I think the biggest reason kids get into trouble is because parents don’t show enough — or even any — affection or they just don’t care. Kids need someone to care and look after them. If you get mad easily, find something you both like to do together. Find something that relaxes you like music, running, poetry, or writing in a journal. Those things help to disarm our hearts and make them “lighter.”

Don’t give up after failure. Getting upset with failure will lead to even more failure. Practice using peaceful words and activities. Stay away from playing video games too much and watching movies with all the cursing or bad things they do in them. I encourage you to think twice and act once.

You’ll be glad you did and at the same time disarm your heart. People will like you for that.

— Kaleb Pounds is an eighth-grader at Concordia Junior High School and is the son of Kevin and Deanna Pounds.

A Lesson in Kindness and Compassion

2010-02-21T18:27:00.002-06:00

Feb. 19, 2010: School shooting victim’s legacy is a lesson in kindness and compassion, by Cassie Lowell

February 19, 2010 by Sarah

Rachel Scott was a victim of the Columbine High School shooting that left 12 students and one teacher dead in 1999.

She was just 17 when she was killed, but she had already developed a theory on life: “… if one person could go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same.”

Rachel was right. One act of kindness and compassion will motivate the receiver to go out and perform his or her own act of kindness.

While showing kindness, you are showing that you care for others and are treating them well. You are selfless rather than selfish. In showing compassion, you are almost empathizing with another person. You are showing that you know how that person feels and that you are there.

I have seen plenty of acts of kindness and compassion in my life. This community is full of them. There are always people willing to help those in need — from food drives at the local schools to free lunches during the summer for those that are less fortunate.

I have been involved with numerous community services that show acts of compassion and kindness, and I’ve seen that being there, seeing how one act can make another person so happy, can really get to you. It motivates you to keep helping those and it helps you motivate others to show their kindness to the people who need it.

Everyone needs to see kindness and compassion in their life. I am daring you to go out today and show a stranger an act of kindness. I can guarantee that with this little action you will trigger a chain reaction and the acts of kindness and compassion will keep on going.

— Cassie Lowell is a senior at Concordia High School and a member of Friends of Rachel.

Year of Peace is going on the Road!

2010-02-15T10:52:00.000-06:00

This week the Year of Peace Committee will be going on the road to Manhattan, Kansas. We will be sharing with a group at the Manhattan Public Library Thursday evening at 6:30 PM (Feb 18th) about our initiative. We will be sharing about how we developed the topics for the 16 month Calender, the activities that we have set up for the civic community of Concordia and the activities coming up, including the the Workshop on Poverty March 30. The focus of the Group is Cultivating Nonviolence. This is no easy task... Thank you for you support!

Sr. Julie Christensen - CSJ,
-blog editor

Disarming the Heart

2010-02-10T14:25:00.000-06:00

Feb. 5, 2010 — Disarming the heart: Peace begins within us, by Sister Anna Marie Broxterman

February 5, 2010 by Sarah

“What time is it?”

Who would think that such a question might be a disarming one? It was for Angie, a friend of mine.

At the time she was a woman in her late 30s, a peace advocate and one who taught, through workshops, the art and skills of nonviolence. She lived at the Catholic Worker house in St. Louis and assisted in the work through meal preparation and hospitality.

It was mid-August and the Worker house was closed for the month but she was there alone in the three-story house. She was awakened by the sound of her bedroom door being opened and someone, quite large, moving toward her bed.

She found her voice and asked the disarming question, “What time is it?”

A male voice responded as he walked toward the window to check his watch, “It’s 3 o’clock,” he said.

Angie responded, “Oh I see that my bedside clock says 3:10,” which led to a vocal pondering about the disparity of the two timepieces. It allowed her enough time to turn on her bedside light. She invited him to be seated, and then engaged in a conversation as to why his original intent, as he entered her room, would not be a good thing for either him or her. He agreed, and after continuing conversation about his life, she offered him a room for the night. She prepared breakfast for him in the morning and he left.

Later in the day, she found a bouquet of flowers placed between the door and the screen door with a note thanking her for having made a difference in his life.

Angie’s capacity for nonviolence did not begin with this episode. She had dealt with her own internal disarmament in and through her teachings and spiritual disciplines of prayer and study. The disarming of our own hearts begins in the same place, the harnessing of the interior forces that give birth to violence, like anger, anxiety and greed.

We hope most of us will never encounter a situation like that of Angie’s; rather, it is the daily little events that awaken us to the violence within. So the next time you find yourself breathing angry threats because of the behavior or attitude of a companion on the journey, a working partner or a family member, I hope you make a mental note that you still have work to do to come to an internal disarmament. The old but true adage: The only person you can change is yourself.

Whenever I am on the path to internal destruction and find myself blaming others for my feelings, behaviors or attitude, and am pushing such negativity into the environment, it helps to have a friend with a sense of humor.

That happened recently. A friend listened for a while and then said, “Could it be you have a ketchup deficiency?”

I recognized that phrase from a tongue-in-cheek segment of Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” but no matter its source, spoken at the right time it disarms the heart! Peace happens at such moments!

— Sister Anna Marie Broxterman is a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia and serves on the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

Peace is Worth Defining

2010-02-01T16:28:00.002-06:00

Jan. 29, 2010: Peace can mean many things — and it’s worth defining, by Taylor Allen

Many people around the world do not know peace, and have never seen it in their lives. Peace is something that is said to exist in the United States of America, but as with freedom, it has its catches. It would help out the world if peace was exhibited every day, because then there wouldn’t be as much war or violence.

In my life there has always been the “American” peace, but along with freedom there are always catches. There are many laws that stand in the way of freedom. Many laws are in place to “keep the peace,” but these laws disrupt the peace that people enjoy, and with each law more freedom is taken away. Many of these laws do give citizens peace and freedom, though; it is a question of what matters most and what we are willing to give up.

Peace can have many meanings to different people, or maybe even many meanings to an individual person.

In my opinion, peace is a state of mind, an opinion and a feeling. People can be in a peaceful state of mind when they are happy or content; when they have nothing to worry or stress about, or even when they do, they don’t let it control them; they take their time and don’t feel overwhelmed. If someone or something is peaceful or at peace, it means there is no turmoil, no negativity and no hatred.

Peace occurs when there is happiness, honesty, love, sharing, when people swallow their pride and realize all people are equal. Peace is the feeling people get when they look at a sleeping baby, when they see the flag flying above troops as they hug their children for the first time after months away. These feelings can give people goose bumps and make them feel serene and happy to the point where nothing can bring them down.

Peace is different to every person; it can represent extreme happiness or quietly sitting in an open field gazing over the wild plants gracefully swaying in the quiet breeze.

To me, peace is when there is happiness and people aren’t being cast aside because they are different. God made us all different and that is how he has meant us to be. When I am at peace, the biggest smile I can display appears on my face, everything negative disappears and nothing beats the feeling.

— Taylor Allen is a student at Cloud County Community College.

Bo Diddley, on acceptance!

2010-01-25T14:26:00.002-06:00

Jan. 22, 2010: Bo Diddley offers a lesson in acceptance, by Olivia Leif

Everyone has heard the saying, “You can’t judge a book by its cover!” But really, how many of us truly live by it?

Probably very few of us can honestly say we do because before ever saying two words to someone we’ve just met, most people already have conjured up a preconceived notion of what we think the person is like. Our impressions are based on what the new person is wearing, their hair style, the car they drive or the way that they carry themselves. Often times, this initial look-over gives us a false sense of what the new individual is like, which can impede any chance of becoming acquainted.

When you’re tempted to “judge a book by its cover,” you need to take a deeper and closer look at what — or who — you are trying to judge; you need to look beneath the surface of someone. The “cover” of some professor, for example, may seem slow and awkward, but the “book” could be home to one of the brightest minds around.

The late Bo Diddley, in a 1962 hit song, plainly explained what the saying really means:

You can’t judge an apple by lookin’ at the tree
You can’t judge honey by lookin’ at the bee
You can’t judge a daughter by lookin’ at the mother
You can’t judge a book by lookin’ at the cover

Oh, can’t you see — whoa, you’ve misjudged me
I look like a farmer but I’m a lover
You can’t judge a book by lookin’ at the cover

If instead of automatically thinking you know everything about a person, try to get to know the him or her. By keeping an open mind and not judging, you have the possibility of becoming great friends.

The next time you see a new person walk through your door, follow Bo Diddley’s lyrics. Tear down the judgmental wall down to learn what’s inside the book.

— Olivia Leif is the daughter of Todd and Diane Leif. She is an eighth-grader at Concordia Junior High School.

We each have a unique song!

2010-01-25T14:25:00.002-06:00

Jan. 15, 2010: African story reminds us we each have a unique song, by Husch Hathorne

The “other” is an interesting concept in our community of Concordia.

Originally, in my white, heterosexual, physically-abled perspective, I conceptualized the “other” as some who didn’t fit that description — perhaps someone nonwhite in our largely white town, perhaps someone gay in our largely heterosexual town, maybe even someone physically or mentally challenged. But the person who drew my attention to the idea of an “other” in Concordia was someone not native to our soil.

They are the outsiders to our town. The new, the recently relocated, the Not-from-Here folks. The broader idea of the “other” is someone “not like us.”

By acknowledging that there is an “other,” we admit awareness of a core community in which we live, in which some are a part and some are not. The essence of any small town is the insulated, tightly knit community of its members — who by the nature of their inter-relatedness may be much happier than their city counterparts or more miserable than their small town counterparts, depending on real or perceived inclusion or exclusion.

When you are born into a small town, your community role is set for life by your socio-economic position. Your family name defines your potential and your economic/marital status seals the deal. This makes life for some of us a safe, comforting and thoroughly enjoyable experience. For others it can be a confining and at times narrow place to grow our dreams.

But dreams know no boundaries and many of our young people leave to pursue their hopes of greater opportunity through education and exposure to worlds where class and social status doesn’t define your place in the world.

How to change this? How to change a whole culture of exclusion? Concordia’s culture is described by some people as reserved, private, non-demonstrative and welcoming only upon proven community stature.

I recently received a forwarded email that told the story of an African tribe who upon welcoming newborn babies into their clan sang their individual song to them so that as the babies grew up they would always know their song of identity. The song would be sung to them on all-important occasions, wedding, initiation into adulthood, and certainly on the deathbed to sing the person into the next world with comfort.

The striking part about the practice of singing unique songs to each member of the community was that the song of identity was used as a way to help them correct themselves when they had lost their way — perhaps behaving in anti-social ways. The song was used to gently remind the offenders who they were, so that they could regain their balance and come back into right thinking and acting. The idea is that by remembering who we are, we each have a sense of responsibility and identity that can bring us into focus again — not by punishing us through isolation but by accepting us with love and remembrance of who we are. It reminds us who we are connected to, which we all forget from time to time.

In our non-African culture, we can try to hear each other’s unique song and we can try for less judgment of newcomers, remembering gentle notes that lull us back to knowing who we are, and greater acceptance of each other whether new, established or relocated community members. We can sing, and listen, too.

I like to think of it as a way to understand and illuminate the need to hear each other’s song every day, especially at a time of renewal and New Year.

— Husch Hathorne, LSCSW is a therapist and a transitioning social worker with Catholic Charities of Salina. She was born in Concordia and is relocating to Alaska to hear her song sung daily as she joins her new husband, the source of her best forwarded emails ever.

A friend teaches gift of giving

2010-01-08T13:45:00.000-06:00

Jan. 8, 2010: A friend teaches about the gift of giving, by Audrey Stiles

Giving is wonderful. Everyone tells me that giving is better than receiving. And while the Christmas season is about giving and being around friends and family, it is not the only time we can give.

I have an elderly friend named Melva who has taught me much about giving.

I love to give my time to visit her. She always gives her time and love. Melva was my mentor during church conformation. We had fun and got to be really close friends. She took me out to eat, we went on walks, and so much more. She helped me get to know God, and she taught me how great giving can be.

Melva has given so much to the church. She and her husband, Burton, started a church at Lovewell Lake, Kan., more than 50 years ago. Melva loves that little church that used to be a schoolhouse. Every year she is so excited to go and help serve God at the Lovewell church. She loves that church so much that even when her husband died, she continued serving there. As she got older and couldn’t drive anymore, she still didn’t give up going to Lovewell.

I love going with Melva to Lovewell. Every Sunday is a treat. There are either musicians to share their music or there is a speaker. Melva also has taught Sunday school there and I love to hear the stories she tells about it. Everyone at church is willing to give her a ride from Concordia to Lovewell; it’s the least we can do to give back what she has given to the church.

Melva has taught me a lot about giving. She is such a caring person. She has influenced me to be a better person. Melva also taught me that I don’t have to give just at Christmas, but all year long. I love to give to my church and to the community in many ways. When Melva came into my life, my life changed entirely. I learned that giving is important and people are always grateful for what you have to give.

My life has been full of giving. People give me some of their precious time to teach me how to play an instrument or to help me with homework.

I am very glad that Melva has helped me learn that giving is such an amazing action.

— Audrey Stiles is a sophomore at Concordia High School and is the daughter of Chris and Melissae Stiles.

a pledge of giving to others

2009-12-19T13:09:00.000-06:00

Dec. 18, 2009: Begin the New Year with a pledge of giving to others, by Jordynn Gumm

When I was a child, I was taught that it is important to share. At first I thought this just applied to toys and candy, but as I have grown older, I realized that sharing is much more than a childhood rule. It should be a way of life.

Service and charity are both examples of sharing. Charity is money or other help that is given to people in need, while service is sharing your time or special talents by doing things for other people without any expectation for something in return. There are many opportunities available today to provide service or charity to others and there is no age limit.

Kids can help others in many ways. Collecting items at school for the food bank or participating in programs like “Hoops for Heart” are just two examples of charity. Helping an elderly neighbor or grandparent by mowing their yard, raking leaves or scooping their snow are all ways that kids can provide service.

There are a lot of things that adults can do to help others. These can include being involved in “Big Brothers, Big Sisters,” donating blood, delivering “Meals on Wheels” and helping neighbors and the elderly with home repairs. Volunteering their time to serve in their local churches or community organizations are other opportunities where adults can share their time and talents.

During the holiday season there seems to be an increased awareness of people who are less fortunate. Many people become more active in volunteering and donating during this time of year, but the needs for those less fortunate do not end when the holidays are over. Their needs go on all year long.

With the New Year just around the corner, I would like to challenge each member of the community to include in your New Year’s resolutions a promise to give some of your time or resources for the benefit of others.

— Jordynn Gumm is an eighth-grader at Concordia Junior High School. She is the daughter of Jeff and Ronda Gumm.

2009-12-17T15:21:00.001-06:00

• Concordia pledges to be more civil in 2010

Posted by Sarah

“Incivility is the new secondhand smoke,” wrote Los Angeles Times columnist Tim Rutten earlier this year. “Everyone feels impelled to disdain it, but nobody is willing to do away with it entirely.”

A growing number of people across the country — and in Concordia — would disagree with the second part. They are making a personal pledge to do away with incivility and bring civility back to public debate and behavior.

The Concordia Year of Peace Committee is doing its part by introducing The Civility Pledge, in time for New Year’s Resolutions.

The pledge — which says, “I will be civil in my public discourse and behavior, I will be respectful of others whether or not I agree with them and I will stand against incivility when I see it” — is available to be printed out and signed. The version for individuals is available HERE, while the one for groups is available by clicking HERE.

Bob Steimel, chairman of the Community Foundation for Cloud County, suggested the Civility Pledge to the Year of Peace Committee after seeing a newspaper article about the pledge and The Civility Project. “I just thought this would make people think about civility,” Steimel said.

“It’s a nationwide effort, and it’s something we can do here.”

The Year of Peace Committee was excited to add the pledge as its next project, said Sister Jean Rosemarynoski, who is chairing that group.
The committee grew out of the community forums that have been hosted by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia throughout 2009.

“The idea for a Year of Peace evolved from the original community needs study,” Sister Jean explained. “People in Concordia were concerned about the levels of domestic violence, sexual assault and community discord, and looking to ways to focus on nonviolent communication. From those came an emphasis on nonviolence, and from that came the Year of Peace idea.

“Civility — being respectful despite our differences of opinion — fit right in with that,” she added. “We want to get the message out, and then encourage everyone to live that message: That all people must be treated with dignity and respect.”

While the Concordia Year of Peace idea is a relatively new communitywide effort — it officially began in September, with a proclamation from Mayor Greg Hattan — the emphasis on civility in public decision-making has been around for more than a dozen years.

In a landmark study at the University of Colorado in 1997, researchers Guy and Heidi Burgess defined a return to public civility this way:

“Clearly, civility has to mean something more that mere politeness. The movement will have accomplished little if all it does is get people to say, ‘excuse me please,’ while they (figuratively) stab you in the back. Civility also cannot mean ‘roll over and play dead.’ People need to be able to raise tough questions and present their cases when they feel their vital interests are being threatened. A civil society cannot avoid tough but important issues, simply because they are unpleasant to address.”

But, the researchers added, “People need to recognize that other thoughtful and caring people have very different views on how best to address their community’s many complex problems. Constructive debate needs to focus on solutions and not upon personal attacks leveled by adversaries against one another.”

“Civility allows us to truly debate issues without attacking each other,” Sister Jean said. “We believe it can allow us to work toward solutions, and do it together.”

In the next couple of weeks, Year of Peace committee members will be asking people throughout the community to sign the Civility Pledge as a New Year’s Resolution. Then after the first of the year, the committee will compile all those signatures as a demonstration of community support for civility.

“It isn’t about one person making a statement,” Steimel said, “It’s about all of us saying that this is important.”

Civility is just one aspect of Concordia Year of Peace

The Civility Pledge is just the latest project of the young Concordia Year of Peace Committee, a grassroots group that came together late this summer.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Concordia have taken the lead in the 16-month-long “year” to celebrate peace and teach about living a nonviolent life, but the organizing committee has about 10 active members — and another 20 on the committee roster — from across Concordia.

The Year of Peace actually began in September, with a proclamation by Concordia Mayor Greg Hattan and then the city’s Fall Fest. The committee invited local groups and service clubs to show their support with a Year of Peace float and the Concordia Rotary Club, the Concordia Lions Club, the Frank Carlson Library, Catholic Charities, Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas and Manna House of Prayer rallied to the cause.

There was also a Year of Peace booth where volunteers handed out buttons, sold T-shirts and played two songs written for the committee by Patrick Sieben of Cloud County Community College.

At the same time, the Blade-Empire also began publishing weekly columns focusing on peace and living a nonviolent life. Those columns are written by Year of Peace committee members and local students, and are published each Friday.

The committee has also launched a blog to make those columns available to a wider audience and to encourage discussion about topics of peace and nonviolence. For more, go to http://concordiayearofpeace.blogspot.com

KNCK radio has also given the committee airtime each month to talk about its projects.

The Frank Carlson Library partnered with the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Year of Peace Committee to present an eight-week workshop that has just concluded at the library. “Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living” attracted more than 20 participants, and will be offered again beginning Feb. 7 at the Nazareth Motherhouse. (For information on that workshop, contact Sister Anna Marie Broxterman at 243-2149 or at annacsj@csjkansas.org.)

The library has also asked the group to present a workshop on nonviolent communication.

And the word about Concordia’s Year of Peace is apparently spreading.

Professor Susan Allen, director of nonviolence education at Kansas State University’s Women’s Center, has asked the committee to make a presentation in Manhattan in February about its projects. Dr. Allen believes that the Concordia effort could be a model for other cities.
The committee continues to seek ideas for projects throughout 2010.

The Year of Peace Committee received a $500 grant from the Community Foundation for Cloud County, to help cover some of its initial expenses, and then generated about $825 at a fundraiser in October.

For information about the Concordia Year of Peace or any of the planned events during the year, contact Sister Jean Rosemarynoski. She can be reached at 785-243-2149 or by email at sisterjean@csjkansas.org. Or, the Concordia Year of Peace blog is on the Web at http://concordiayearofpeace.blogspot.com.

2009-12-14T17:09:00.000-06:00

Dec. 11, 2009: Concordia Year of Peace shifts focus away from hate and war, by Jake Karschimkus

In the words of Indian diplomat and politician Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, “The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war.”

This year people want us to try our hardest to stay peaceful because it is better than losing lives in war. This is why this year in Concordia has been designated “the year of peace.” Whether we are having personal issues with others or we, as a nation, are sending our troops to war, this year we should try to stay peaceful and avoid conflict.

The dictionary defines “peace” as “a state of mutual harmony between people or groups.” This is the definition that I believe is most appropriate for our year of peace. We are supposed to avoid conflict as well as be in this “state of mutual harmony” and get along with other people.

The reason for designating a year of peace is to counteract the war and hate in the world right now. There are wars going on between countries as well as hostilities and confrontations between races and people with different beliefs. Some would turn to religion to get away from all this conflict, but there are even differences between religions causing feuds.

By declaring a Concordia Year of Peace and focusing our attention on that, I believe we can begin decreasing hate from here instead of increasing it the way it has been.

— Jake Karschimkus is a student at Cloud County Community College.

2009-12-04T12:55:00.000-06:00

Dec. 4, 2009: What is a gift? And what does it have to do with peace? by Sister Julie Christensen

This month we celebrate the season of giving and receiving. I know a certain sense of joy and contentment when I have received a gift that resembles my desire and have given a gift that resembles the likes of another.

I believe being from the heart of the country has given us generous and caring souls, but why?

Is it the way the earth gives us wheat so abundantly that inspires us to share our gifts so freely? Maybe it is the wind that constantly shares with us a renewed spirit of our humanity and that nudges us into action? Perhaps it is the sun that shines on the land in plentitude that stimulates growth that cannot be contained by any boundary.

For any and all the reasons I feel blessed to be able to acknowledge these innate gifts and see them gently multiply as time passes. These gifts bring me peace and certainty about the goal of life. They remind me of my responsibility and desire to do the same. They also remind me that gifts are never given in a closed circuit structure. The experience of a gift is felt by all, especially the more challenging gifts.

As I reflect, I ask myself, what does it mean to give? More importantly, where does my giving or gift come from? Who is the giver or the receiver? How does the gift resemble the giver? How am I giving what I have been gifted?

I think in the act of giving, sometimes we find what is fashionable, but mostly we give of our talents and of our abundance. In the act of receiving sometimes we open nicely wrapped packages, but more importantly we open our hearts and our lives and, if we are able, we receive what the giver is gifting. In this awareness, we are changed by each gift we receive and by each gift we give.

In light of the many questions and the certainty of the many gifts in my life, I know a desire to be more intentional about fostering that generosity. I want to give it a place to multiply and expand beyond the boundaries.

I know that with every breath I take I become more capable and strengthened in my awareness of the gifts in my life merely by the act of taking a breath. I know this awareness is what drives me to be more attentive to the gifts both given and received, in my life and in the lives of all those around me.

I find fostering generosity like one of the many important elements, gusts or rays of the Kansas Plains that make peace possible. This peace is a challenging gift that is awareness, strength and commitment in all of our experiences.

— Julie Christensen is a native of Concordia and is a Sister of St. Joseph living and studying at Manna House of Prayer. She is a member of the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

Course at Library Concludes

2009-12-03T14:19:00.000-06:00

Wednesday December 2nd concluded our first official Concordia Year of Peace program. The program was a class called Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living.

The group of about 20 spent 8 weeks meeting at Frank Carlson Library each Wednesday evening from 7:00pm to 8:30pm (usually a little later though). The Curriculum focused on 'Exploring Nonviolent Power' and 'Structural Violence and Nonviolent Power.' Some of the topics were, "The situations we often face," "Ways we often react," "Another way," and "Seeing what is hidden!"

As we concluded our time together last evening there was a strong desire to remain community. For sure we will do that.

For those who are interested, we will be offering another course starting in February, (actual date TBA).

Other programs we are planning on will be book studies, presentations by nonviolence gurus, and continued articles in the Concordia Blade. All the articles will be posted on our Blog for all of our inquirers near and far!

We hope this can be a community effort, please feel free to post your ideas or email us.

Thank you,

Julie Christensen, CSJ

Thanksgiving

2009-12-03T13:51:00.002-06:00

Nov. 27, 2009: Thanksgiving can last longer than a day, by First Presbyterian Christian Education Class

We have all heard the story of the first celebration of Thanksgiving by the pilgrims and Indians and how they joined together to give thanks for their harvest. The practice of Thanksgiving is still widely celebrated today across the United States with family dinners and gatherings.

We each have our family traditions that we celebrate each year. These might include watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or cheering on our favorite football team. However, our traditions always center around food, family, and friends giving thanks for each other and our many blessings.

Many years have passed since the first Thanksgiving and even though the ways that we celebrate have evolved and changed over the decades, the true meaning of Thanksgiving has not been lost. We gather as family and friends bowing our heads together to offer thanks to God for the many blessings we have received.

The fourth Thursday of each November has been set aside by our government as a legal holiday to celebrate Thanksgiving. Although this is the one day that we as a nation step back and reflect on all we have to be thankful for, it should not be the only day that we offer thanks. We should practice Thanksgiving every day to appreciate the many blessings that we have. We can do this by offering our thanks to God daily by prayer and praise like a simple blessing before a meal, or a bedtime prayer. Others may choose to take just a few minutes to pause and quietly reflect on all of the small things that bless their lives each day.

We hope everyone had the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving Day, and we encourage you to celebrate your blessings each and every day! We wish everyone a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

— The writers who contributed to this column are Jordyn Gumm, Kacey Gumm, Cassie Lowell, Catherine Wallace and Sharon Wallace. They are all members of the Junior-Senior High Christian Education Class at First Presbyterian Church of Concordia.

'An Old Rocking Chair'

2009-12-03T13:49:00.004-06:00

Nov. 13, 2009: A view of peace from an old rocking chair, by Ryan Hahn

“There never was a good war or a bad peace,” wrote Benjamin Franklin.

Now as then, “peace” is something everyone wants to have, but no one can ever completely accomplish it. Out of all the smart people in power, no one can come up with a solid plan that will sustain peace.

When I think of peace, I think of smiles of everyone’s face, everything just running smoothly and no problems in the world. Peace is having people at your side and nothing on the brain except what’s ahead, just pure tranquility. I think of tranquil surroundings, such as green grass, green trees, and just the smell of pure untouched air. This peaceful place has the most beautiful view at sunset, just sitting on my father’s old creaky rocking chair rocking to and fro on the porch, looking at all of the beautiful colors. While I sit there and watch the sun turn red and fall behind the trees in my backyard, I can hear all the wildlife because the whole area is dead quiet. It’s almost as if the world is standing still.

But we all know the world never stands still; it’s always buzzing with people too busy to pause and appreciate the small things.

The dictionary defines peace as “a state of mutual harmony between people or groups, esp. in personal relations.” If we could achieve that “mutual harmony” with other groups in the world the number of catastrophes might lessen and all the things most people fear would evaporate.

Every day would be joyful and stress free, people all over would get along and all the hate and deceit in the world would disappear. Peace would become reality.

But too many world leaders only see things their way. And even those who want to make peace can cause damage that starts new trouble. No, with all the hate going on in the world right now, peace seems to be a highly unattainable goal and certainly will not be attained anytime soon.

I’m just grateful I can always go back to my porch and rock myself into tranquility.

— Ryan Hahn is a student at Cloud County Community College.

'Random Acts'

2009-12-03T13:49:00.001-06:00

Nov. 6, 2009: ‘Random acts’ spread kindness to strangers, by Haley Bowers

Kindness, “the state or quality of being kind.”

When a person is helpful, generous, sympathetic, or compassionate for no other reason than to be kind, it is a random act of kindness.

Many of us will go out of our way for family or friends, but when it comes to someone we don’t know… That’s harder — and yet that’s the point of a random act of kindness. For example, I was heading to one of our home football games and was looking for a decent parking stall. After a few laps, I found an exceptionally good one next to the entrance, but then I noticed a family van packed full of kids also looking for a close place to park. I decided to take a few more laps, allowing the family to claim the one I’d spotted.

Another “random act” can be to greet someone with a smile. It’s easy to spot someone having a bad day walking through our high school hallways. I believe that offering them a simple smile, or some assistance if that’s what’s needed, we can make all the difference. Kindness like this can have a great effect on a person’s life, no matter how small or big the deed it is. This is why we need to continue this kindness everywhere we go.

Challenge yourself and watch how it can brighten someone’s day and in return you get the feeling of self satisfaction.

— Haley Bowers is a senior at Concordia High School. She is the daughter of Charlie and Elaine Bowers.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-03T13:48:00.000-06:00

Oct. 30, 2009: Thanksgiving: A heart full of gratitude knows peace, by Sister Mary Jo Thummel

This month we celebrate the feast of Thanksgiving. The story of the origin of Thanksgiving varies according to source, but one thing that all sources agree on is that the feast is based on festivals celebrating thanks for an abundant harvest. One of the first celebrations in the United States was said to have taken place in Massachusetts in 1621.

The Pilgrims had landed near what is today Plymouth, Mass., in 1620 and their first winter in the New World was very difficult. Half of the colony died from disease. The following spring, the Iroquois Indians taught them to grow corn and other crops and how to hunt and fish.

In the autumn of 1621, the harvest was bountiful and the Pilgrims and local Indians celebrated together for three days. Feasting and games abounded as the two groups enjoyed each other’s company. There was no concern about race, culture or creed. All were thankful to be blessed with one another’s gifts and companionship.

Being thankful always reminds me of a man I got to know when I was in St. Louis, working to earn two units of Clinical Pastoral Education credit. He was a Vietnam veteran who had lost both legs.

I visited him weekly and when I came into his room he would always smile at me and say, “Wait a minute, Sister, I have to put on my legs.” He would then proceed to attach his legs and we would journey off to the dayroom to visit. I never heard him complain or utter a word of anger or discouragement. He always had a smile and word of cheer for those we encountered.

I always felt at peace when I was with him because he was at peace with himself, just as he was. He taught me volumes about what it meant to be grateful.

To this day, when I want to grumble about my own misery or downfalls, I think of him. One of my greatest treasures is a picture of the two of us together visiting and working a jigsaw puzzle.

There were other such encounters during my year of CPE training and I became aware that when my heart was full of gratitude, it was also full of peace. There simply wasn’t room for anger, resentment, or violence in my heart when I could find a reason for thankfulness.

Out of that experience, I try to find some reason for gratitude each day regardless of how meager — or abundant! — the harvest of the day has been. I have come to know that when I look through the lens of gratitude I see each of my brothers and sisters in a more kindly light.

As we move toward the feast of Thanksgiving, maybe we could all challenge ourselves to keep a gratitude journal during this Concordia Year of Peace.

— Sister Mary Jo Thummel is on the Leadership Council of the Sisters of St. Joseph and a member of the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

'The Power of One'

2009-12-03T13:47:00.000-06:00

Oct. 23, 2009: ‘The Power of One’ grows as school year progresses, by Kevin Steinert

“The Power of One. One Person Making a Difference Every Day.”

This is the theme for the 2009-10 school year at Concordia Middle School and Concordia Junior High School. Simple, direct, to the point. For whatever reason, students are excited about this year’s theme like no other I have been involved with. Along with a positive push from the CJHS Friends of Rachel and Student Council groups, the year is off to a great start!

Just before school started, the CJHS Student Council, under the direction of Dustin Bender, met to discuss the upcoming year and what they wanted to accomplish. Within that discussion came the idea of “The Power of One.” Several weeks later, the idea is growing in intensity.

At this point you might be asking, “Just what is this ‘Power of One’?” Look no further for an answer to your question than this true account.
One day a boy was walking home from school with all his books in hand. Some boys came up to him and knocked him to the ground, breaking his glasses. Of course, the boys then ran off laughing.

Another boy, standing just across the street, saw the entire incident. He quickly ran across the street to help the boy, who was quite appreciative for any help he could get. To make a long story short, the two boys became great friends.

Years later at high school graduation, the boy who had been bullied, now the class president, gave a speech at the commencement ceremonies. After addressing the audience, he turned his attention to his good friend who had helped him that day many years ago. No one could believe what he then said. ”I am here to tell you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.” He went on to tell how he had planned to commit suicide that day many years ago and was carrying all his books home so his mother wouldn’t have to clean out his locker at school.

“The Power of One” was surely at work that day long ago. Students at CMS and CJHS are learning that one simple act of kindness can make a huge impact as it did in the story. They are learning that each person makes a decision every day in regard to whether they will help build a person up or tear them down. This “power” cannot be taken lightly. Each of us has a responsibility to use the “power” correctly.
Exercise your right to do so.

— Kevin Steinert is the grades 5-8 guidance counselor for Concordia Middle School and Concordia Junior High School. He has been an educator for 25 years.

Community College Teachers

2009-12-03T13:45:00.002-06:00

Oct. 16, 2009: Community college teachers weigh in on peace, by Susan Sutton

As she looks back on raising her now-grown children, Cathy Forshee notes, “I must have done something right.” The economic instructor at Cloud County Community College says her kids “grew up with a total acceptance of others. In the things they said to and about their peers, adults, authority figures – and their behavior as well.

“My own kids were never aggressive toward others,” she says. “One of the keys, I think, is that we did so many things as a family – including going to church on Sunday. That was our routine.

“Also, we ate meals at the table – not just at special occasions. Lunch may have been a little on-the-fly at times, but every breakfast and dinner was eaten sitting down as a family around the table. That’s how my husband and I communicated with the kids; we found out about their day and they found out what was going on in our lives.”

Through her prism of economics, Cathy sees much of the violence in our society as related to the economy. “We’re surrounded by media advertising. We’ve become obsessed with acquiring things we don’t really need, and then rent storage facilities in which we stash the things we don’t have room for. Our society is addicted to consumerism and this addiction has negatively changed the way we live and treat others.”

Jonathan Wild, an English instructor at CCCC, talks about peace through the prism of music: “I think the re-mastering of the Beatles albums has been a very positive thing. ‘Give Peace a Chance,’ ‘All You Need is Love;’ both are great tunes and I’m encouraged to think that a whole new generation is being introduced to the Beatles and recognizing the timeliness of the band’s music and peaceful musical messages. Those tunes will never go out of style.”

Recalling the death last month of Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary, Jon speaks for many of his generation when he says, “Peter, Paul and Mary started the Peace Movement. Theirs were the faces of peace. Call it folk music or peace music, PP&M inspired a generation with their messages and sent tens of thousands of young people into music stores to buy their albums.

“‘Blowin’ in the Wind,’ ‘Where Have all the Flowers Gone?’ ‘If I Had a Hammer’ — those tunes are relevant today when it comes to spreading a message of peace. They haven’t become quaint or gone out of style.”

Another thought that should remain very much in style is brought up by English department chair, Brenton Phillips: “In a world that spends trillions on weaponry and training for killing, it is vital that we remember that war should be a last resort, that countries should adhere to the Just War Doctrine developed through history and put into concrete form by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.”

Brenton concludes, “We should also be wise to remember William Golding’s theme in ‘Lord of the Flies,’ that the defects of society are caused by the defects in the individual; and John Knowles’s theme in ‘A Separate Peace,’ that ‘wars are caused by ignorance in the human heart.’”

— Susan Sutton, who compiled this information, is dean of Humanities and Social-Behavioral Sciences at Cloud County Community College. She is also a member of the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

Practicing Kindness

2009-12-03T13:42:00.000-06:00

Oct. 9, 2009: Practicing kindness makes a difference every day, by Colleta Songol

Kindness is such an important behavior.

In my native Kenya, life is often more difficult than it is here in the United States and people are not as eager to practice kindness. We would all be much better off if we practice more kindness.

When I started at Cloud County Community College, I was scared that I would be treated differently because of my ethnicity. My fears were unfounded. The students treat me as one of them and the teachers are very kind. People are so welcoming and willing to be of help when I need it. That has made me want to give back as much as I can.

The kindness of others has been a gracious gift to me and I want to pass it on.

Forgiveness is also a part of being kind. It fosters good relationships. On the cross-country team we must forgive one another because we are a team. As a team we are there to be united and to support one another. We cannot do that if one of us holds on to being angry with another. If we did not forgive, the team spirit would be lost. The feeling of being on a team and belonging to something bigger than me is important.

Saying “I’m sorry” and “thank you” are key factors in kindness. They are something that we can all do. I know form my own experience that being treated kindly can lift my spirits and make a difference in my day.

— Colleta Songol is a freshman at Cloud County Community College. A native of Kenya, she is on the cross-country team and plans to go into nursing.

Everyday Actions

2009-12-03T13:39:00.002-06:00

Oct. 2, 2009: Everyday actions demonstrate the value of kindness, by Barbara Henry

The dictionary defines kindness as a noun; the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic; the trait of being willing to give your money or time and considerate regard for others; a considerate and thoughtful act.

The dictionary tells us what kindness is but it doesn’t say how to be kind or even why we might want to do so.

We need another, bigger book for that.

The phrase “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” is attributed to peace activist and author Anne Herbert in 1982. A random act of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person wishing to either assist or cheer up another. The reason was to make people smile, or be happier.

More than random acts, kindness should be practiced intentionally, as a way to live your life.

Through the ages we have been asked to live in a kind way.
• Jesus Christ told us to “Love each other as we love ourselves.”

• Buddha encouraged the practice of loving-kindness meditation.

• One of my dad’s favorites was the Golden Rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In other words, treat other people the way that you want to be treated.

• More recently, pop culture has suggested that we ask ourselves, “What Would Jesus Do?”

Kindness does not have to be grandiose and begging for recognition, although the generous donations of time or money to a good cause are always welcomed and appreciated.

Just as important is the everyday kindness that you practice when you hold the door open for someone, smile, let someone go ahead of you in line, share something positive or are promptly on time; all these show respect for others.

To listen and be really present when someone is talking to you is another way of having respect for people. Kindness is treating others with respect and courtesy.

A positive, friendly attitude can lead to others being kind. It simply multiplies itself. If someone is kind to you, you feel good and are kind to someone else, and so on it goes. You create a ripple effect of kindness. By consciously practicing being kind, we develop into a practice of promoting people.

Practice kindness. Promote peace.

— Barbara Henry is a case manager at OCCK Inc. and is married to Sam Henry. She is a member of the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

What is the meaning of Peace?

2009-12-02T12:03:00.002-06:00

Sept. 25, 2009: What is the meaning of Peace? by Sister Carolyn Teter

Peace is more than the absence of war. Peace is a set of values, attitudes and behaviors: It means respect for others regardless of race, gender, age, nationality, class, sexuality, appearance, political or religious belief, physical or mental ability. This respect requires a great empathy for others– a willingness to understand their views from their standpoint.

Peace will ask of us:
• to believe that positive changes can be made by individuals and groups of people,
• to appreciate and respect diversity,
• to commit to non-violence, equity and social justice,
• to be concerned for the environment, and
• to commit to the equality of all people.

A culture of violence is all too evident in our society. Look at the hate-filled films and cartoons, talk shows that spew out hate for anyone or anything that suits the host of the show, fighting in sports and school yards, aggressive driving, racism, physical abuse in the home, indifference and selfishness. These are just some of the evidences of violence in our culture.

Building a culture of peace will entail developing on a daily basis the values, attitudes and behavior that are in keeping with respect, tolerance, equality, sharing and generosity.

— Sister Carolyn Teter has been a Sister of St. Joseph of Concordia for 55 years. She is on the staff at Manna House of Prayer and is involved in offering workshops and spiritual direction. She is a member of the Concordia Year of Peace Committee.

WELCOME

2009-12-02T10:14:00.000-06:00

Thank you for checking us out! This is our online forum of action and commentary for 'Concordia Year of Peace 2010'. Please join with us in promoting a just and equitable peace throughout our neighborhoods in Concordia and, eventually, throughout the world.