Before I take you on a reflective journey of my trip to Israel and Palestine, I must warn you that I have no idea what I'm doing "blogging". No. Idea. My personal writing has always been just that...personal. On one hand, I recognize that writing and developing this blog has already made me vulnerable, which is scary; on the other hand, being vulnerable to the experience is just what I need. After all, being open and vulnerable to the expression of our experiences is something that we all need, and that is one point that I hope to show you by the end of our time together.
Here, in this space, I'm taking you on a journey that may seem backwards at first, but will end in a place that is exemplary of the growth that I've experienced. Before our group left on the trip to Israel and Palestine, we were asked to create an opening narrative that expressed our assumptions about the conflict in Israel and Palestine in relation to a topic of our choosing. Because I am intrigued and passionate about the theological ideas and the praxis of conflict transformation, a new way of handling and transforming conflict, I wanted to explore the possible role of the circle process in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict. In a partially theologically motivated conflict, how can restorative practices, like peacemaking circles or listening circles, benefit the people? What are the pragmatics of the circle process in Israel and Palestine? What peaceful possibilities are available when the people of Israel and Palestine are equipped to use practices that deepen relational living? If the people of Israel and Palestine had opportunities to sit in circle together and share their narratives, what are the possibilities for peace?
If God calls all people of creation to right relationship, a possible outcome of restorative practices, why can't there be peace through the circle process? After traveling to Israel and Palestine, I recognize how naive the question may seem, but what I hope to show you in this blog is how my thoughts have changed over time. The points of reflection in my blog are based around conversations with people and organizations in country that shaped and molded my experience.
Today I ask similar questions from a new perspective, but right now I stand by my original assumptions and questions to show you my journey to an alternative ending. Follow me!
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