“We” shall overcome

The busiest part of today came this morning when I showed 22 kids around from the Hobart Catholic school, John Paul II.

Oh, to be that young and exuberant again; full of curiosity, spice, fun and boundless energy. They were a nice combination of being well mannered and wild at the same time. What a treat for me. I loved how the little girl (top photo on the left) carefully crept up to the edge of the cliff, daring herself to venture closer with each step. Will she always be this brave?

Yes, I had a captive audience. And yes, I pushed my personal wheel barrow on the sacred aspects of art, peace and the environment.

And to underscore the importance of educating our children on being active in social and environmental justice campaigns, half an hour after the school kids left, two tourists from Israel came to see the Peace Garden and walk the Peace Path. In conversation with the woman, she told me that in Jerusalem she would go to the military check points to pass out information to the Palestinians on their legal rights as well as do a “citizen’s watch” on the behaviour of the soldiers. She and her partner agreed with me that governments (Australia and America included) seemed incapable of moving beyond the pattern of using violence to try and stop violence. Has it ever worked?

Around three o’clock two American sisters from Pennsylvania, one an English major just out of university and the other about to complete her chemistry degree, cruised through the property just a few minutes ahead of four senior citizens from New South Wales.

Not everyday is this busy with people who have found their way to Windgrove to witness what is happening here. By the time I went for my surf at 6:30, I had spoken to four separate groups totalling 22 kids and ten adults.

As the school bus pulled away at lunch time and as each of the Hertz rental cars left later in the day, I felt grateful each time to have been given the opportunity to share with these young, older and oldest hearts and minds some of the Windgrove philosophy on art, peace and right livelihood. Their smiles and waving good-byes were some indication that the legacy unfolding here was being appreciated.