• Two types of ‘peacemaker’
  • Prophets are committed to the truth, they speak truth to power, they stand up for what they believe, they do not shy away, they do not retract or compromise the truth as they see it
  • Prophets are needed. They have an absolutely vital role. And sometimes when we least expect it, someone is profounded changed as a result of a prophet shouting at them from the rooftops.
  • But most people do not hear prophets. They block them out. They get defensive and put up barriers to further conversation. Prophets can be very lonely people.
  • Reconcilers are committed to love, they listen and empathise, they look for commonality, they compromise, they care about the relationship, they value love over truth.
  • Reconcilers are also needed. They are the peacemakers. They are the ones who can stop the bloodshed, heal the wounds, bring people and communities together.
  • But reconcilers can end up being used rather than listened to. They do not challenge the status quo and therefore the status quo carries on. Sometimes the status quo has to deeply and fundamentally change.
  • The Truth is that we are all on this planet to love each other and to care for each other and to work for the Kingdom of God which is love made manifest in the world. The truth is that we are not on this earth to kill each other, to make war and to destroy the things that matter to each other, nor to destroy the very earth upon which we live. The truth is that love is what matters, but love is also political and revolutionary. It is not just about how we treat each other individually but how we treat each other as a society – and how we treat other societies.
  • So it is the combination of truth and love, justice and peace, head and heart that matters.
  • We are all of us a mixture of prophet and reconciler, but some may be more at home with one or the other. Both are needed. By combining the strengths of the prophet AND the reconciler, we can harness the full power of love and truth to make a real difference in the world.
  • That is what we are seeking to work on in this workshop – how to speak our truth with compassion but also with conviction. How to challenge people with the truth but in a way in which they can actually hear it and take it in.
  • It is not easy. There are a few tips and techniques, but mostly it is about practicing and making mistakes and learning from our mistakes.
  • It is also about trusting that the words will be there for us. It is about praying and listening to hear what it is we need to be saying, and supporting each other as we have these difficult conversations.
  • And none of us here are ‘experts’ – this is about sharing with each other our different experiences and helping each other to get better at having these conversations…