I am going to depart from my typical newsletter this week (surprise surprise) to give you a special message of HOPE for the end of this millennium. We've all come a long way together, now let's move confidently forward on this powerful healing crusade that we are on. Here are my thoughts for you, inspired by a wonderful writer, Henri Nouwen, a man who lived with and served people with profound physical and mental disablilities.

First, let us always remember the Silent Witnesses. They are the reason we are doing all this incredible healing work across the country. Let's remember them by name at all of our events: Lynda, Tammy, Corey, Judith, Carmen, Juanita, Madeline, and Barbara... They have no voice now but your voice, no energy but your energy, no compassion but your compassion.

Second, let us all believe that we will receive what we need when we need it. For many of us this initiative has an element of Divine providence in it.That being the case, let us believe that we will be provided for and as a result let us keep moving forward, taking those risks for which we have become known. Let us see life as one grand adventure with the healing of this country as our  ultimate and attainable goal. In fact, here's an outlandish statement: What if the healing has already happened and all we have to do is to live into that truth??

Third, even though we will inevitably have pain and setbacks along the way, let us not dwell on them but rather be continually be surprised by the JOY that erupts in the middle of it all, by the miracles that show up on a continuous basis, and by the loving acts of generostiy and kindness along the way. Let us grieve the losses, yes, but also celebrate the successes. And let us all be lights in the darkness, like candles flaming brightly in the world. If we don't bring light to the dark world of domestic violence who will? When our candles flicker in the night may others come and hold them for us as we will do for them in their dark nights. And may all our candles join together in a torch that will bring peace, healing and justice to our world. Peace on Earth.

You are all incredible. Silent Witness would not exist without you. Healing would not happen without you. Thank you all for being the angels you are. And please take good care of yourselves so we can do incredible things together in the new millennium. I love you all. I leave you today with a poem that I sent out with my Holiday cards this year.  Peace to you all.

The Bright Field

I have seen the sun break through to illuminate a small field for a while, and gone my way and forgotten it. But that was the pearl of great price, the one field that had the treasure in it. I realize now that I must give all that I have to possess it. Life is not hurrying on to a receding future, nor hankering after an imagined past. It is the turning aside like Moses to the miracle of the lit bush, to a brightness that seemed as transitory as your youth once, but is the eternity that awaits you.  

From Laboratories of the Spirit
by R. S. Thomas, Macmillan, 1978

Let's go for the treasure together!!

Cheers,

Janet