Windgrove

Life on the Edge

Keeping at it

Our town planner has just quit in disgust because nearly every recommendation she has made to the local council on appropriate development has been overturned. Our state government is secretly and openly giving away land zoned “coastal conservation” or within national parks over to developers. Instead of adequately funding our public hospitals, they have just given three million dollars to private developers to build a motor car raceway. Our federal government has taken away all research money into renewable energy; instead, purchasing four hundred million dollars worth of 15 year old used tanks from America (about 50).

Shall I examine the global picture?

So, from whence comes the motivation to keep plugging away at the maintenance and further creation of the Windgrove Peace Centre? Choosing to live in basic poverty while continually putting every dollar earned or donated into its establishment? Why don’t I just sell this valuable beach front property, take the cash and enjoy a leisurely retirement befitting a person at the head of the “baby boomers” (born 1946)?

And don’t think I haven’t thought about it. In many ways, it would take a lot of the emotional and physical pressure off of me, thereby, allowing an opportunity to just sit quietly somewhere and carve, do yoga retreats and sip cafe lattes in town squares while perfecting my “inner being”.

The answer is to be found in: “the potential of service to the earth and humanity”. If I can hang in here long enough; if Windgrove can get firmly established as a refuge for ecology and art, as a place of dialogue with nature on community, peace and healing….. then all the present trauma associated with an empty stomach and worn out clothes will seem insignificant.

I am more than willing to dig ditches for three months to install a water system, not for my simple needs, but for the Centre’s future needs. But I can only do so much and I do tire.

The Peace Fire is important. The Peace Garden is important. The Peace Path is important. The Artist-in-Residence program is important.

And why?

Because of our children.

heather roseLike Heather Rose and Sophie. They, and three other children were at Windgrove this past weekend and all partook in the spirit that resides here. Kate, Brook and Sophie sat around the Peace Fire on Saturday night and experienced a view of the world that can counter the images they have seen of war prisoners. They heard adults talking of peace not hatred. They felt the warmth of an eternal flame dedicated to world peace and attended to daily for over two years.

On Sunday, in the nurturing atmosphere of Windgrove, Heather Rose constructed a small altar for “earth’s beauty”.

I can cry when I see such hopeful examples of how we might exist in this world if the conditions were right for our children’s blossoming.

May these children grow into adulthood full compassion and love for all.

May today’s adults do all they can to instill a sense of awe, sacredness, wonderment and beauty into the hearts of every child upon this planet.

And so I plug on.

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