Season for Noviolence 2008 comes to a close

CLOSING Apr. 4: Every day, I join others in this prayer for World Peace -

With each kind thought,

each choice for nonviolence,

we plant a seed that shall bloom

to bring forth rich fruit in its Season.

Together, friend, we till the soil and

plant the seeds that all creation may

sing for joy and dance in the

Garden of Peace.

May our prayers and practices

during this Season be but the beginning

of a new culture of peace, security and

joy that shall endure unto our

children’s children's children.

Peace from all of us at Michigan Peace Team, and from our ally in this project - the Peace and Justice Center in Arlington, Texas.

A Thought for the Day...

The Center for Spiritual Living in Dallas, Texas is offering daily short video "thoughts for the day", specifically geared toward the Season for Nonviolence message. With their permission, we offer them here to you, as we could never replicate what they've done so well. Please take a moment to explore these links.

WEEK 4 (22-28)“The nonviolent approach does not immediately change the heart of the oppressor. It first does something to the hearts and souls of those committed to it. It gives them new self-respect; it calls up resources of strength and courage they did not know they had.” -- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day 22 – MISSION (Feb. 20)
Day 23 – PRAYER (Feb. 21)
Day 24 – HARMONY (Feb. 22)
Day 25 – FRIENDLINESS (Feb. 23)
Day 26 – RESPECT (Feb. 24)
Day 27 – GENEROSITY (Feb. 25)
Day 28 – LISTENING (Feb. 26)

WEEK 5 (29-35)In order to create a peaceful world, we must learn to practice nonviolence with one another in our day-to-day interactions.
Day 29 – FORGIVENESS (Feb. 27)
Day 30 – AMENDS (Feb. 28 and Feb.29)
Day 31 – PRAISING (March 1)
Day 32 – PATIENCE (March 2)
Day 33 – ACKNOWLEDGEMENT (March 3)
Day 34 – LOVE (March 4)
Day 35 – UNDERSTANDING (March 5)

WEEK 6 (36-42)To require others to change for us to be more peaceful does violence to us both. By choosing to be peaceful in relationship, we invite others to nonviolence in return.
Day 36 – MINDFULNESS (March 6)
Day 37 – GRACIOUSNESS (March 7)
Day 38 – KINDNESS (March 8)
Day 39 – DIALOGUE (March 9)
Day 40 – UNITY (March 10)
Day 41 – OPENNESS (March 11)
Day 42 – ACCOUNTABILITY (March 12)

WEEK 7 (43-49)Relationships based on nonviolence are built on the ability to see and understand another human being, whether or not we agree. Seeing people from our common ground gives us practice for bringing nonviolent actions, choices and behaviors into our communal life.
Day 43 – UNIQUENESS (March 13)
Day 44 – COOPERATION (March 14)
Day 45 – MASTERY (March 15)
Day 46 – COMPASSION (March 16)
Day 47 – DISARMAMENT (March 17)
Day 48 – ECOLOGY (March 18)
Day 49 – HONOR (March 19)

WEEK 8 (50-56)Nonviolence challenges us to stand for Truth by taking action that honors the dignity and worth of every human being.
Day 50 – CHOICE (March 20)
Day 51 – ADVOCACY (March 21)
Day 52 – EQUALITY (March 22)
Day 53 – ACTION (March 23)
Day 54 – GIVING (March 24)
Day 55 – RESPONSIBILITY (March 25)
Day 56 – SELF-SUFFICIENCY (March 26)

WEEK 9 (57-63)By practicing being peaceful, we become better citizens of the world.
Day 57 – SERVICE (March 27)
Day 58 – CITIZENSHIIP (March 28)
Day 59 – INTERVENTION (March 29)
Day 60 – WITNESSING (March 30)
Day 61 – PEACE (March 31)
Day 62 – COMMITMENT (April 1)
Day 63 – RELEASE (April 2)

WEEK 10 “Nonviolence should mean a complete freedom from ill-will, anger and hate and an overflowing love for all …. The nonviolence I teach is active nonviolence of the strongest. But the weakest can partake in it without becoming weaker.” – Mohandas K. Ghandi
Day 64 – CELEBRATION (April 3)