Peace in Motion Move Night: A Narrow Path

We are so excited for our third Peace in Motion Movie night! This month, we will be screening The Narrow Path.

The Narrow Path is a film that explores the nonviolence that Jesus exemplifies in the bible and encourages people to become instruments of peace, while exploring different teaching in the bible, such as the Sermon on the Mount. It also talks about nonviolence as a means of resistance to all forms of violence and the idea of surrendering oneself to “God’s vision of peace.”

You can watch the trailer for the movie here!

The film is narrated by John Dear, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008 by Archbishop Desmond TuTu. He is an outspoken activist for nonviolence who has been arrested many times protesting war and violence. According to Wikipedia he “received the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award in September 2009 for his solidarity and leadership in nonviolent resistance, vegetarian life style and Gospel living.”

To find out more information or sign up for the class click here.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.

Peace in Motion Movie Night: A Force More Powerful

Last night, we had our first Peace in Motion Movie Night! We kicked it off with a screening of A Force More Powerful.

Image from here

This film explores one of the 20th century’s most important but least understood stories: how nonviolent power has overcome oppression and authoritarian rule all over the world. Narrated by Ben Kingsley, and nominated for an Emmy, A Force More Powerful premiered on PBS in September 2000 and chronicles the work of non-violent leaders such as Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Reverend James Lawson and Lech Walesa.

Each film screening is followed by a moderation, led by Chip Royston.  Chip is a professor of Human Services and Anthropology at Cal State University Fullerton. He describes himself as being “profoundly interested in the human condition; past, present, and future.” In addition to teaching at CSUF, Chip is very involved with the Peace Studies department at GoldenWest College, he has written a children’s book that was endorsed by Dr. Jane Goodall; and  he is a founding member of Bundle of Twigs, a Long Beach-based community activism leadership organization.

Our next Peace in Motion Movie Night film screening will be Wednesday, February 9th.  We will be screening Let Freedom Sing!, a film about how music inspired the Civil Rights Movement. To find out more about our Peace in Motion Movie Nights and sign up, click here!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.

Rev. James Lawson Helps Us “Bridge the Divide”

Reverend James Lawson

Reverend James Lawson is one of the civil rights movement’s most important figures. His work was (and still is) so influential, Martin Luther King called Lawson the leading theorist of non-violence in the U.S. You can read more about the life of Rev. Lawson here.

I attended a talk by Reverend Lawson at Chapman University this week as a part of their “Bridging The Divide” speakers series. I was struck by both the passion and compassion of this man who has seen and experienced so much of this country as people have struggled for greater equality and rights for all people.

The main focus of his talk was about how we can bridge the divide between the world as it currently is and the vision of a world where all complexions, creeds, and cultures are celebrated. He was unshakable in his belief that all of us have the potential to discover the preciousness of the gift of life and the deep inner wellspring of our compassion.

Reverend Lawson mentioned three key ways for us to bridge the gap:

1. We must begin with ourselves. We must take responsibility for our personal, inner work and dismantle in our minds any idea that any other being is inferior. We can work to unlock a vision for a world of love and compassion.

2. We need to hold this vision of what our world can be in our minds – a society where no segment of the population is marginalized and all are loved and respected.

3. We can engage in non-violent action and behavior that can explode into movements of social change that result in justice and equality. Reverend Lawson spoke at length about the ability to create change that does not escalate wrong. Many non-violent social movements have illustrated this.

It was an inspiring evening listening to words from an inspiring and history changing man.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.