That famous poem by Rudyard Kipling “IF” commences with If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs has a lot to offer toward reflection on peacemaking. Wisdom guides us to explore our own resources and inspirations when time tells heavily upon us. Here, Bishop Philip Huggins shares his peacemaking, his inspirations and his own spiritual discipline around peacemaking.
Yes, Peace is in Every Step: The Necessity Now of Good-Hearted Peacemaking
Peace is Every Step; a guide to walking meditation
‘It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.’Luke 6.39-45.
This is a reflection on peace in the context of the third anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
It begins with an artistic appreciation.
In difficult times it helps to play Mozart and eat chocolate!
Mozart‘s music makes one’s heart feel good. Some chocolate is surely a ‘health food’!
Last Sunday, my wife and I heard Anne-Marie Johnson [violin] and William Vyvyan Murray [viola] play Mozart’s Duo k424.
They told us the story of how Mozart wrote this anonymously for a friend, Michael Haydn [brother of Joseph Hadyn].
Michael was in a spot of trouble. He had a contract to produce six pieces of music. Michael had done four but then hit the wall. A mutual friend asked Mozart if he could help. Both knew how much Michael needed the cash.
That dear soul, Wolfgang Mozart ,spontaneously said ‘yes’,out of the abundance of his heart.
What we now know as Duo k424 was provided anonymously. Everyone was delighted. Michael received his money and life went on.
W. A. Mozart Duo KV 424 – Laura Marzadori violino e Simonide Braconi viola
From Salzburg in 1792 to now, we see the wisdom of Jesus’ words in this Gospel passage, including:
…‘The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good…’
Mozart was good hearted.
Goodness isn’t just a nice feeling. It is necessary for civilised living. It is ‘wisdom for the common good.’ This is the motto of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture where I have a small role.
A key reason for spiritual practice is to nurture the abundance of the heart from which, we pray, there will flow good words and deeds.
For me this involves the nurturing benefit of the “Prayer of the Heart”.
Here I link to an article, about this which, as it happens, was written by me not long after the invasion of Ukraine.
On this third anniversary, we pause to remember the sufferings and pray the Ukrainian people will soon have a truly just peace.
Here is but one tragic story of many. Anastasiia died on 6 March 2022. Her friends then posted this:
The JESUS PRAYER or PRAYER OF THE HEART (sung)
Pondering these matters, a dear soul stopped me in the supermarket today, full of anguish about the recent treatment of Ukraine’s leader.
We discussed what a genuine culture of dialogue looks like, as modelled by many indigenous peoples:
Everyone affected must have a place in the ‘yarning circle’.All voices matter and so time must be given so that all voices can be heard. A good dialogue requires tolerance,patience, a giving and a forgiving spirit.
The Talanoa Dialogue of the Pacific focuses on three key questions:
- Where are we?
- Where do we want to get to?
- How do we get there?
In the supermarket we agreed that this isn’t very complicated. The complications come from hearts that do not have a good intent.
There is a related spiritual practice which I try to stay aware of. It is certainly relevant as disciples of Jesus draw near to Lent. But maybe also for other dear faith friends as they anticipate their spiritual seasons of searching the heart. Including Ramadan from March 1 and Passover from April 12.
In the words of the late Donald Nicholl, once the rector of the Ecumenical Institute at Tantur (situated between Jerusalem and Bethlehem):
“If your immediate spontaneous reaction-if the movement of your heart-upon hearing of some tragedy is an ideological one rather than a human one, then your heart has been corrupted and you should leave straight away and go on pilgrimage until it is cleansed.” Clare Amos ‘Peace-ing Together Jerusalem’ p.109 [WCC Publications 2014]
Seeking to be people of ‘Hope and Peace’,it helps if we are attentive to our spontaneous reactions to news of one kind or another.
Are we selective about those to whom our hearts go out?
The problems and sufferings caused by ideological hatreds do seem huge. What we can do about them doesn’t seem much.
Nonetheless it is essential that we do what we can.
Our pilgrimage,as people of faith, is to try and live with good hearts.
As friends from Plum Village convey, ‘our pilgrimage of peacemaking’ is every step.
Bishop Philip Huggins.
25 February 2025.
Member, Religions for Peace, Australia.
Adjunct Professional, Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture
Bishop, Anglican Church of Australia