ENOUGH! For the Love of God–ENOUGH!

Several years ago, I sat in the home of an elderly Palestinian couple living on Mt. Gerizim above the city of Nablus in the West Bank. Before dinner, two other guests arrived to talk with the old man about their efforts to heal some of the divisions within the broader Palestinian community. As a business leader in the community, they hoped he would help fund their project to eliminate some of the political infighting and self-serving agendas that weakened Palestinian unity and collaboration.    

At the time, their plan included a social media campaign, public gatherings, and a coordinated moment in which every (willing) Palestinian in the West Bank and Gaza would stop what they were doing to shout in unison, “ENOUGH!” for one minute. The real work of the campaign would be in the education and community building leading up to the moment of shouting. But they intended to issue a clear and united signal—a very public notice to others and a reminder to themselves—that the Palestinian community was now pulling together rather than continuing to be torn apart by division, conflict, and disunity.

Listening to the conversation, it was clear that my wealthy host was not convinced about the effectiveness of the plan, though he was clearly sympathetic. He had told me earlier that if Palestinians had any hope of surviving and ending their bitter conflict with Israel, they must first find the inner discipline and will to work together.

As far as I can tell, the proposed initiative never materialized. I watched for it in the news for several months and have since found no record of it occurring. I don’t know what impact it may have had in mobilizing Palestinian citizens to work together, most of whom long for a peaceful solution to this seemingly intractable conflict. These days, it is hard to imagine shouting loud enough to be heard over the sounds of wailing of mothers, exploding bombs, and angry threats happening all around and on both sides.

ENOUGH! For the love of God—ENOUGH!

Unfortunately, the violence being unleashed in the Middle East is only a tiny piece of a world ravaged by ongoing war and conflict. The 18^th edition of the Global Peace Index  (https://www.economicsandpeace.org/global-peace-index/) reports:

• There are currently 56 conflicts worldwide, the most since World War II.
• 92 countries are involved in conflicts beyond their borders, more than at any time since the inception of the GPI (2007).
• Last year, 108 countries became more militarized.
• 110 million people are either refugees or internally displaced due to violent conflict, with 16 countries now hosting more than half a million refugees.

ENOUGH! For the love of God—ENOUGH!

Recently, Pope Francis spoke at a Peace Summit, saying we are dangerously close to seeing many conflicts spread out of control. In his message, he said, “Stop the war! Stop the wars! We are destroying the world! Let us stop while there is still time!”

ENOUGH! For the love of God—ENOUGH!

In recent years, it seems that Christian peacemakers committed to non-resistance have often shifted their focus to issues of justice, which are crucial and integral to any lasting peace. There is no peace without justice.

At the same time, I fear this shift has diminished our concern for creative and Spirit-led peace initiatives. Our voice for peace has grown muffled. Given our world, I wonder whether we must find new and innovative ways to say “ENOUGH!” and imagine new efforts that forge real and lasting reconciliation, including within our divided communities.

Unfortunately, we have normalized a world at war. We have grown far too comfortable with the civilians, including children, dying as “collateral damage.” We unblinkingly accept the fact young men and women are being killed for causes they may neither understand or agree with. Rather than being horrified by the technological and biological ways we now conveniently wound, maim, and kill others from a distance—we marvel at our ingenuity. As Christians—who are called to be one in Christ—we continue to divide into ever increasingly narrow enclaves and congratulate ourselves on our purity and principles.It is time for some of us to say once again, “ENOUGH! For the love of God—ENOUGH!”