Words Create Worlds
Since I was a child, I have always found words captivating. I loved being read to as a youngster, and just about as soon as I could read on my own, I began writing. Words create worlds, and it was a comfort for me to be able to escape being a shy and serious child for a while and dwell in a world of fantastical imagination, whether it was my own invention or someone else’s creation. As I grew, I learned more and more how words create our worlds, and how the words we use to talk about ourselves and others affect how we understand what it means to live in community. Words have power, and in our world today we don’t have to look far to see how people’s care for words (or lack thereof) affects the distribution of power, resources, and even peace.
Over a year ago, Janet Hasselblad attended a summer “Peace Camp” with the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America~Bautistas por la Paz in Mexico City. During that camp, Janet learned about a program begun by the Global View Foundation of Ecuador, a “Poetry for Peace Marathon.” This program had begun after the COVID-19 pandemic, when people felt the need to reclaim spaces for community and tenderness after the trauma of being separated for so long by the impacts of the virus. This turned into dreams of a global marathon for peace, inviting people all over the world to speak love, justice and peace into places in our world either needing tenderness or that provide tenderness. Janet brought this wonderful idea to me and the Seattle chapter of the Poetry for Peace Marathon began.
On Saturday, October 24, the dream of participating in this global event to spread peace was realized in our church Fellowship Hall. Throughout the day, over 30 poets and appreciators of poetry alike gathered to read, listen, share, workshop and, overall, enjoy the art of poetry together. Cherry Johnson, Rebecca Alder, Carla Granat and others shared their original poems, born out of experiences of tension, pain, injustice and resilience. Our neighbor Stan Kehl shared his poetic daily musings about life and nature. Linda Zaugg, Steve Smith, the SFBC Men’s Group, and others shared poems by much-admired authors. Local poet Georgia McDade and the African American Writers Alliance shared original poetry. I shared poems for children and Keith Curl-Dove shared poetry through song. Our friends at the Ignatian Spirituality Center led those gathered in an exercise of writing an “I Am From” poem that gave voice to our different experiences of home, family, and identity. Through all of these sharings ran the thread that Janet reminded us of in the beginning of the day: bringing people together to read poetry makes a little more peace right where we are, that can then ripple outwards to inspire and transform.
It was an honor to know that people all over the world were gathering in the same few days to share poetry and community together. From Ecuador to Canada, across the USA, in Mexico and Colombia and beyond, hundreds of people gathered to read, write and share poetry for peace. I know that I left the October 24 gathering feeling inspired and connected with my neighbors from Seattle and across the world, and I hope many others did, too. If these feelings of connection across country and language are possible just from doing one event to share poetry, think of what else we can do to create more peace in our world!
I give hearty thanks to Eloy Alfaro and the Global View Foundation of Ecuador, the BPFNA~Bautistas por la Paz, and Janet Hasselblad for bringing this wonderful event to SFBC. Thank you also to the Romney Legacy Fund Committee for sponsoring the event so that we could have a hospitable space to share, complete with food and warm beverages. Thank you to all the folks who shared throughout the day and all the folks who showed up to listen. Together we created something beautiful and meaningful—and I look forward to see what will come next as we creatively seek peace together.
I love you, and I love being your pastor.
Rev. Anita