“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is yet to come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Mother Theresa
During the month of October and November Christina Antonick and I were in the classes of primarily grade 3, 4 and 5 students delivering the Peace Kids program. Recently we were asked by a student whether there was going to be a third world war.
Now for me this is quite a profound question. It speaks to hearing the information somewhere – from a parent, maybe catching it on the news, or hearing adults discussing it. It also speaks to this child wishing to understand what is going on and perhaps a need to process it emotionally – likely but not entirely dependent on the emotions of the adults around them on the subject.
As part of Peace Kids we ask kids what they see as peace and not peace, teach about emotional intelligence, the power of expressing gratitude – to self and others, and the difference between conflict and bullying (conflict is a normal part of relationship, bullying is not).
The conversations can be quite profound. Kids can translate bullying to the larger world. They see where peace exists and where it doesn’t. They are aware, or learn to be aware, of how peace relates to their inner being and the outside world. They ask real questions and gain some understanding and perspective about them in terms of peace. They learn tools of how to find peace for themselves AND they learn how promoting peace outside of themselves is connected. Conversations are started. I often leave feeling awed by their wisdom.
by David Norget, R+R and Peace Kids Facilitator