This past weekend I had the good fortune to sing with a large chorus in a fully orchestrated rendition of The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. This stunning piece, composed by Karl Jenkins, includes moving and lush movements interspersed with the searing and ugly sounds of conflict and war. At times I found that I had to avoid thinking about the words that I was singing and just focus on the conductor’s baton to stay with the beat and on the note.
Given this experience coupled with the grating and constant noise of many hotly contested political campaigns, which are in the swing these days, it would be shame to miss the fact that tomorrow is National Conflict Resolution Day. Just a few weekends ago, my wife and I enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the patio of Union Cellars, located between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg on Furnace Road, for an event hosted by the Susquehanna Mediation Center.
That evening, our spirits were uplifted by progress reports given by Mediation Center Director, Susan Jordan. She reminded us that conflicts commonly arise anywhere: at school, in workplaces, within the legal system, and even amongst family members. Susan also pointed out that what is an uncommonly good thing is that tools exist to resolve these conflicts.
So, in celebration of tomorrow’s worthy day dedicated to resolving that which aggravates us, vexes our souls, and on behalf of making the Greater Susquehanna Valley a wonderful place to live, work and play, I invite you to raise your awareness of the various peaceful, non-violent methods of resolution available, such as mediation and arbitration.
Together, we can make sure that our best days, lie just ahead.
Wondering where to learn more? Please visit the Susquehanna Mediation Center’s website at: www.svmediation.org
National Conflict Resolution Day
