"There are many causes that I am prepared to die for but no causes that I am prepared to kill for."
Mahatma Gandhi
The Story of My Experiments with Truth, 1927
What does it mean to be non-violent in the face of a threat to your LIFE? Recently we had a member of this network make threats that he would be "watching" us. This is not the first time this has happened in our lives. We actually went through a 7 year period following Father Leslie's accident when we were harrassed by everyone from Child Protective Services to Animal Control to the Department of Licenses and Inspections simply as retaliation for having dared
to tell a city government that they may have neglected to cover a hole in a street or at least mark it appropriately.
It will soon be 10 years since that all began and so we are, indeed, a little "gun-shy" as the saying goes. But with the International Day of Non-Violence coming this weekend and with the daily reports of gun violence out of control in the streets of our city, we pause to stand in AWE OF THE CREATOR who, by the Power of THE GREAT SPIRIT alone, without the use of guns or force freed us from the harrassment of others in and out of court. Although all members of our family are highly trained in Self-Defense and Restraint tactics I can say with peace that we have thankfully never had to once use any material weapon available to us.
IT IS OUR HOPE THAT WE NEVER WILL.
PRAISE TO THE CREATOR FOR THE MAJESTY OF GOODNESS REIGNS FOREVER.
MAKE NO MISTAKE.
GOD IS IN CHARGE.
Respectfully,
Mother Nanhi & Father Leslie
