JONAH – Joining Our Neighbors Advancing Hope (Chippewa Valley Wisconsin) – is a community group that exists to deepen relationships within and among faith communities and partner organizations to empower people in addressing the root cause of social injustice in the greater community (JOHAH Annual Report 2023-2024).
Yesterday afternoon JONAH held a volunteer recognition to acknowledge the countless number of ours that people give to the organization. I am a member of the Mental Health Task Force. One of the activities that was on the agenda and touched my heart was the faith communities lighting candles. The symbolism was timely due to the outbreak of war in the holy land (this activity is done every year at the JONAH recognition event). The flame represents inclusivity, love, reconciliation, living for the future, and environmentalism at the local level. It was a precious moment reminding me of the strength we have working together.
There was a speaker, Ricardo Levins Morales https://www.rlmartstudio.com/ He is an artist and used his work to weave in some exceptional thoughts. The one that really caught my attention had to do with hope. It is difficult to give hope to a person that is hopeless. Hope comes after the fact—coach people to take action that supports healing and encourage them to keep routines despite being hopeless. Over time (perseverance) hopelessness will melt away and give way to hope.
Peace
Larry
email: ljw@superhumanbeing.net
website: https://superhumanbeing.net/