Of Peace, Place and Shalom Activists

My wife and I were sick to our stomach as we watched a newscast report the horror of the Boston Marathon bombings.  Our hearts are heavy. We knew 2 people who were present at the marathon itself.  Thankfully, they are both ok. 

But it reminded me that violence is always happening.  It’s as if this full scale, big impact violent event reminded me that bad stuff happens all the time.  Seemingly violence has been happening forever.

It’s two competing narratives.  One of violence.  One of peace.  One seeking revenge.  One seeking to love the enemy.  Each telling a radically different story.  The grand call of God is that hope and peace is always there, subverting the story of violence. 

That narrative calls for shalom activists. 

Boston needs prayer and the presence of peace.  It needs shalom activists. 

Palestine needs prayer and the presence of peace.  It needs shalom activists.

Northern Ireland needs prayer and the presence of peace.  It needs shalom activists.  

Africa needs prayer and the presence of peace.  It needs shalom activists.  

Your neighbourhood needs prayer and the presence of peace.  It needs shalom activists. 

Peacemaking is not a picture of a dove, or a 70’s peace symbol.  It is good ol’ fashion hard work.  That is what a shalom activist does.  I have met a few of them.  And they all have three very specific things in common. 

A love for God, a love for their particular place, and they work hard.  Damn hard.  Everyday.

The shalom activists are there, participating with God, and working damn hard.

As large scale violent acts trend on twitter from time to time, lest we forget that the grand narrative of violence remains, day after day, in the worlds most ignored places too.  Pray for Boston.  Pray for the families who have suffered loss and the devastation of the subsequent ripple of pain.  Pray for those who no nothing other than violence in their own backyards.  Pray for your place too.  Seek peace.  Navigate the subversive story of peace.  God’s peace.  Pursue it! 

Start with the little things.

Has the Boston Marathon bombings prompted you to think about peace in your particular place?  Where do you see opportunities for peacemaking both locally and globally? 

Fourteen: What Makes a Viral Video?

As I got my stuff ready for a road trip to Winnipeg I was reminded of this TED talk I watched a few weeks ago.

Kevin Allocca is the trends manager at YouTube and gave this compelling talk about what makes a viral video.  In light of Kony 2012 and the debate it has sparked, I figured this would be of interest.  It’s 7 minutes, which is a bit longer than I normally post yet well worth your time.   If you are interested in what makes a video go viral take a look. 

In the name of viral videos, my two favorite viral videos are embedded below.

Which are your favorite viral videos?

Thirteen: “Kony 2012″ Compelled to Connect Pt4

It is safe to say that Kony 2012 is all over the place.  Twitter and Facebook alone became saturated with pictures, comments and videos.  Heck last night alone 20 people in my Facebook network posted the video or other links about the movement.  Not just my fellow British Columbians, but people from all over North America.

Connection is happening all over the place in the name of Kony 2012.  It is compelling, it is gripping because we are people created to connect.  It is in our DNA to connect with God and to connect with each other.   Technology gives us the persistent opportunity to do this with great efficiency.  As we have seen with Kony 2012, it can start movements.

According to Derek Sivers, a movement starts not with a leader, but with the people who are willing to follow.  When you have followers you create momentum.  When there is momentum it is almost impossible for the idea to stay within the nebulous world of digital social media.  It hit’s your home, it hits the streets, it hits your neighbourhood and beyond.  Things start moving.  It is attractive because people want to be part of something larger than themselves.  There is this desire because our individualistic society isolates us to the point where we need each other for belonging.   Peter Block speaks of this in his book “Community: The Structure of Belonging.”  He continues on to say;

“Community offers the promise of belonging and calls for us to acknowledge our interdependence.”

Movements assume the interdependence of a connected network of people willing to participate in something greater than themselves.  It is safe to say that Kony 2012 is a movement that has given people a place of belonging.  And it’s beautiful. Think critically, get involved, Kony is a monster who forces children to kill. But it is also a reminder, that though we are compelled to connect with one another in the name of something far greater than the individual, there is also a great divine connect waiting, just waiting for us to become active participants. It’s more than a movement, it’s citizenship and incarnation of a Kingdom and a world born within the dreams of God.  We need our connections with God and with each other to be stronger than that which empowers movements.  Follow Jesus, be missionaries of each and every moment.

“Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”  Matthew 6:10,11

Previous Post: Twelve: “The Disconnect Box” Compelled to Connect Pt 3

(If you have not seen the video that has hit the social media world by storm, I have embedded it below)

Seven: To Follow is to Lead?

“If you really care about starting a movement have the courage to follow and show others how to follow.”

- Derek Sivers

Watch this video.  If you have seen it already, watch it again.  It is quickly becoming a classic.  In 3 minutes Derek Sivers gives us the key to starting a movement.  It may not come from where you think.

When I watch this video my mind becomes saturated with the sheer boldness of the first followers of Jesus.  I’m reminded of biblical legends John the Baptist and the apostle Paul.  They followed.  I think of our world today, of those who follow Jesus into the dirty places and spaces wherein nobody else dare set foot.  Imagine how much momentum could be gained by being courageous in who we choose to follow.  A movement doesn’t depend on the ‘lone nut’ rather it is indebted to the first follower(s).  This idea turns leadership on its head and says that to lead is to follow.

This video poses a question,among many; do you dare follow?

Jesus called out to them, “come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people.” And they left their nets at once and followed him.

- Matthew 4:19,20

how many FB ‘friends’ do your parents have?

This commercial is hilarious. 

I have often wondered how my parents survived in a pre-social media world.  I wonder yet how they survive in a social media world when they don’t spend hours on Facebook chat.  My dad doesn’t even use a cell phone, let alone participate in this communication medium called ‘texting’ for goodness sake. 

Seriously though, people can indeed connect and live full and beautiful lives without the use of social media.  Watch this video.  It’s 30 seconds.

A shout out to Eugene Cho for posting this on his blog.