IMAGINE IF…

Instead of what we saw last week in the Oval Office, imagine if …

Imagine if, before the public and televised confrontation there had been private, discreet conversations which were carefully mediated.

Conversations through which the complex and conflicting narratives were carefully discussed. Perhaps beginning in shared silence for prayer and meditation. Perhaps agreeing to return to that place of stillness and shared silence whenever this seemed helpful.

Imagine if this important conversation was not at all rushed. Instead was given what time was needed so as to reach an agreement on next steps.

Imagine if that discreet meeting began with an appreciation for the sustained trauma absorbed over three years by the Ukrainian President.

An appreciation, therefore, of what it had taken out of him to be a leader of his people in the face of a brutal invasion.

Imagine if he received empathy and gratitude rather than had angry demands made of him – demands that he be more grateful for support his invaded people had received.

Imagine if simple rules for peacemaking conversations were followed by those speaking of ‘peace’ and the place of ‘diplomacy’.

Interrupted conversations seldom go well and generally end rather badly.

People speak over the top of each other. Their tone of voice becomes aggressive as emotions are further aroused. This often leads to open anger. People may then part from each other badly and unreconciled.

All of this was what we saw.

One can but imagine how the Ukrainian President felt as he left hurriedly.

Especially after such a graceless encounter with people so aware of their power to make his leadership even more difficult.

Instead of interrupting the Ukrainian leader, imagine if the President and Vice President of the United States had listened patiently to him until his sentiments were fully expressed.

Imagine if then there were clarifying questions, asked politely rather than a descent into accusations.

Questions like: ‘What do you mean by this? … Are you saying?’

Imagine, in short, that the hosts had been hospitable.

There is an art to peacemaking.

That important meeting in the Oval Office could have been so much more fruitful if the hosts had just practised a few simple attributes of respectful listening.

It is painfully obvious that our world needs international leaders who are genuine peacemakers.

As Lent begins, we are opening ourselves up afresh to God’s ‘Hope and Peace’ for ourselves and for all whom we carry in our hearts.

We see in this Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 4.1-13, Jesus’ model of perseverance in prayer and in scriptural clarity of action. He is not seduced, for example, by devilish promises of ‘power and glory’.

Jesus goes on His giving and forgiving way and we follow, trusting that we will be renewed in the resurrection energy of hope and peace.

What a blessed journey we are making this Lent together. And how necessary, given the state of the world!