Letters - 28 July 2023
From Energy and inspiration to Population issues
Energy and inspiration
Hope is a slippery thing. Paul Hodgkin (30 June) points out that telling ourselves we must have hope leads to sad indifference or unhelpful desperation. Instead we can perhaps accept a degree of sadness (about the state of the earth, for example), and centre down to benefit from Barrie Mahoney’s ‘spiritual tape recorder’ (7 July).
This tape records happiness experienced in certain places (natural or built), and transfers the positive energy to us, when we open ourselves. We might be then enabled to accept sadness about our damaged earth, and find joy in its still amazingness, and act with courage.
With this strength, and acceptance of sadness (which Paul calls lamentation), we can find energy and inspiration to create concerns which will draw in others and lead to positive action. This in itself might well generate genuine hope.
Gillie Bolton
A partial truth
Thank you to Oliver Müller for his letter (14 July) on the importance of questioning the West’s (and our own) attitude to Russia. It expressed well an unease I have felt but not found words for.
In a recent edition of the Quaker Council for European Affairs’ Around Europe there was an article on ‘Dialogues for transformation – listening for a change’. It included this quote from the US peacemaker Gene Knudsen Hoffman: ‘Everyone has a partial truth, and we must listen, discern, and acknowledge this partial truth in everyone – particularly those with whom we disagree.’
Rosemary Andoh
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