yin-yang

From sandals in the AZ desert heat to hat and scarf in the Christchurch winter, I was nonetheless blessed to have a second dose of south island New Zealand. Over ten days, I presented to four Rotary clubs about the peace fellowship and conveyed a brief message about global viewpoints to a sea of Catholic school girls at their semester opening assembly. My main purpose of being there was as the 'X factor' at RYLA, a Rotary conference for youth leaders. I shared my story and some thoughts with the group early on during their week-long experience, and in the following few days attended several of their sessions. I was glad to be there to have many long conversations with many of those there who are 'fed up with the world' and are scrambling to find an avenue to be an agent of change. My message was one of 'yes, we need your concern and your energy in the ever-expanding network of peacebuilders'... Building relationships, person to person, day after day in compassion, solidarity, and hope.

I find New Zealand to be refreshingly more aware and sensitive regarding indigenous/non-indigenous relationships, particularly compared with the situation in the US and Australia. As it seeks to breathe more meaning into its identity as a bicultural nation, challenges persist. A newspaper article published coinciding with the reopening of schools spoke of issues of 'white flight' which finds white parents flooding into certain school zones in order to ensure their children are surrounded by a particular peer prototype. So unfortunate and saddening to witness how people can be restrained and confined by their stereotypes and fears.

At the same time, I soaked in the work of artists such as painter C.F. Goldie and photographer Ans Westra at the Christchruch Art Gallery who have strived to create space for more positive and meaningful Maori/Pakeha relationship. And I spoke with several highly motivated and capable women working in NZ education who are putting great energy into developing a model of inclusiveness. One of these was my most gracious host (in the pic above); she and her husband answered all my curious questions, toured me across Arthur's Pass (around where parts of Narnia and Lord of the Rings were filmed), and facilitated an afternoon hiking adventure from Lyttelton to 'Sign of the Takahe' during which I passed more sheep than people:). I wear around my neck one of their gifts to me-- a greenstone Maori symbol, Kumara, whose twists refer to the joining of two peoples or cultures.

Therein examples of yin-yang, energies of inclusion and exclusion, fear and trust.

I flew back into Brisbane a few days ago, arriving at night back to a cold and desolate apartment. I was warmed in connecting with my Nepali host brother over Yahoo messenger. He reports that things there are getting worse, sadly-- that ethnic groups are violently clamoring for separation. In closing, he told me to dream of Nepal:) which is ironically very appropriate as Brisbane is COLD and I've no heat. But there is hot water, I'm able to pile my bed with six blankets, and there is relative 'peace' on these streets.

In a few days, lectures will begin and I'll continue on the quest of deeper wisdom and understanding, lightened knowing that I'll soon be out in a more active role in which I feel most whole...