Saturday, Sept. 21, marked the International Day of Peace or “Peace Day,” established in 1981 through a unanimous resolution by the United Nations. This day offers people around the globe a chance to embrace peace despite our differences and work towards fostering a culture of harmony. Our world longs for peace, and it is up to each of us to make that vision a reality.

In a time marked by wars, gun violence, and hostility toward those with differing political views, beliefs, and ways of living, we find ourselves in a shadowed world that yearns for light. We are living in a society that feels increasingly divided, yet it is only through unity that we can thrive. True unity and peace do not imply the absence of conflict; rather, they reflect how we perceive, value, and respect one another, as well as the choices we make in moments of disagreement.

Peace is our shared aspiration, but it goes beyond mere hope. As Bishop Desmond Tutu, the esteemed South African Anglican Bishop, anti-apartheid activist, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, emphasized, “True peace must be anchored in justice and an unwavering commitment to universal rights for all humans, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, or any other identity attribute.”

In the spirit of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the teachings of the Hebrew scriptures, we must ask ourselves: what valleys need to be uplifted, and what mountains need to be leveled for the sake of justice and peace?

PAUSE Gathering

We begin this journey by acknowledging the pain, hatred, and violence that permeate our world. In honor of International Day of Peace or “Peace Day,” the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life will host a vigil during our regularly scheduled PAUSE gathering on Wednesday, Sept. 25, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. in the Student Lounge of the Carlton Student Union Building.

As I reflect on the countless lives lost in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Haiti, and here in the United States due to mass gun violence and other ongoing conflicts around the world, my heart aches for the world yearning for peace.

Let us come together in remembrance and in hope, committing ourselves to the work of building a more just and peaceful world starting here in our Hatter community.

– Rev. Todd F. Campbell