We stand for peace

contributed by Anne Day

Hi All,

I recently spent time contemplating the ‘We Stand with Ukraine’ plus Ukrainian flag banner that hangs in front of our church. I then contacted the session about it as it did not resonate with my hopes and dreams for our community.

I am aware that even now, like so many of my friends at SPC, when hearing about the grave injustice or victimization of the vulnerable, I first tend to take up sides, to take a position of ‘Us Against Them’. I imagine that was the drive behind the desire to create and hang the ‘We Stand with Ukraine’ banner. It made total sense to me, at least at first.

The more I considered it, though, I had to acknowledge that my heart was also broken for the Russian people. When I connected to my heart it feels much clearer to me that there is no ‘Them’. There is only ‘Us’.

I am sure this conversation will not resonate with all, but I hope it will resonate with some. If it resonates with you, please let me know. If you were to design a banner for the front of our church that reflects ‘there is only us; we are all in this together; we are one’, expressing a profound desire for peace and well-being for not only the Ukrainian people but for all people, what would it say?

If you would like to be part of this project, please contact me at anne@anneday.org. All ideas are welcome!