Agape love and One Family Under God

"Certainly I would hope that agape is the driving force in our movement. It is certainly the ideal for which we aim."

-Dr, Martin Luther King Jr., Letter to Robert Epstein, 1962

The most noble ideal professed by all the major faith traditions and implemented in great civil movements is that of agape love, which is a love that is not only unconditional in motive but which is indiscriminate regardless of situation or affiliation.

This is precisely the ideal that will allow the vision of One Family Under God to be realized, because it is the driving force that can allow all of humanity to be embraced within it's breadth to bring the human family into unity.

My friends of diverse faiths and ethnicities advancing solidarity during the Global Peace Convention 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last December

Being mission-oriented

When we try to accomplish something great in society, we inevitably have to deal with many organizations and institutions that exist. For example, if we want to educate youth in our neighborhood to be moral, we need to work with the local schools and student groups.

However, we shouldn't get too caught up in the politics and management of these institutions at the expense of forgetting our mission. Too often we become too focused on the external management of a program or system that we forget our internal purpose that we are trying to accomplish.

A balance between the two is needed, but we should realize that the institutions are tools for accomplishing our mission and are thus dispensable, although it may hurt our pride because we put much investment into developing them.

Spider Meadows, WA - July 2013

Developing countries should not lose their roots

Often times developing countries try to emulate the developed world, especially America. We can see how American pop culture has spread to every corner of the world because of this, with mostly a negative impact.

However, the underdeveloped world should recognize that they have something much more precious than the popularity and glamour of the American Hollywood life. That is the traditional values and principles that make up strong families and communities in their respective countries. These values and principles should not be forsaken in lieu of the popularity of Westernization.

Luckily, many developing nations are beginning to realize this truth after the recent American economic downturn and seeing the negative effects of westernization on families and societies.

Intl. youth leaders learn how to cook a Malaysian dessert in cultural exchange after Global Peace Convention 2013

We are intrinsically linked

Youth leaders in Ros Kerepek factory, Selangor, Malaysia

During the cultural exchange after the Global Peace Convention 2013, we got to visit local industries in rural Malaysian villages including this tapioca factory where they process the tapioca root into chips and other products.

Reflecting on that experience one thing that stuck out to me is how all of our youth participants were eager to engage with the villagers and their activities. While watching the local workers at the factory cut the skin off the tapioca roots, and they all wanted to pick up a knife and join in the peeling of the tapioca. They gave massages to the workers, shopped at their local store of tapioca products, and talked with the police that were escorting us.

This is a good quality of youth - they always try to be engaged in the process of what they see around them, and especially try to interact with people of different backgrounds. This is because they naturally understand that we are intrinsically linked as One Family Under God.

Interfaith based on finding our common ground

At the Global Peace Convention 2013 in Malaysia, the main theme was interfaith collaboration. On reading this blog post about Father Varghese, a Catholic priest from India, and his speech, I reflected on GPF's unique interfaith approach.

Father Varghese said we have become consumed with the outward practices and rituals of each religion while ignoring the fundamental values and principles that bind us together.

I agree with this approach to peace-building that resigns self-promotion to recognize the vast common ground and purpose we share.

'Young cadets' at the Global Peace Convention cultural exchange

Times of transition

When circumstances around us are changing rapidly, it is a challenge to adjust and adapt, yet it is also an important opportunity to re-assess what our purpose and objective is. Especially when challenge or tragedy strikes us, we must go back to our roots and remember what our original motivation was for choosing a certain path and how the current circumstances can be managed in favor of fulfilling our purpose.

Lake Serene trail, WA - 3/1/14

The Secret Weapon

What is the secret weapon that allows someone to make incredible impact that no one thought possible? What could be so powerful that no army on earth could stop it?

The secret weapon is having belief in one's convictions. Holding on to what you believe is true in spite of the circumstances is an underestimated force that can shatter conceptions of what was previously thought possible.

What determines the fate of a nation?

This is my commentary on the 'Unification Declaration' that can be found at http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/unification-declaration-global-peace-leadership-conference-2012/
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I found this declaration very informing on how the fate of a nation is determined. This document was signed by global leaders participating in the Global Peace Leadership Conference in Korea last year.

What I learned is that two things determine the rise or downfall of a nation: Whether a guiding vision is established rooted in principles and values; and whether its citizens believe in and take ownership over that vision.

The vision is usually outlined in the founding documents upon which a nation is built. For Korea, this vision was outlined during the time of the original Korean nation, Gochosun, by its 4 founding principles explained in the 'Unification Declaration'. By upholding a morally upright vision a nation can head in the direction of prosperity.

Yet, even with a noble ideal, what use is it if it is merely words on paper? The people of the nation must be the ones who carry out and live up to the founding ideals if they are to become a reality. That is why the 'Unification Declaration' advocates for a representative government that endows the responsibility of guiding the nation properly to its citizens. Thus it is not only the body of officials presiding over a nation that should carry on the national dream but rather the whole population.

I participated in the Global Peace Leadership Conference 2010 in Korea (I'm 3rd from left). Since then the Conference has expanded and developed greatly.

Honest self-reflection

When we look at ourselves honestly, we have the opportunity to see where we are lacking in comparison to our ideal of what we want to be like. This introspection can be painful, but it is a necessary process if we want to improve. But we shouldn't get caught in judging ourselves too long, but should quickly move on to make a new determination with a positive outlook on how we can develop based on our more leveled self-assessment.

Value Creation

The Parable of the Talents:
Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.  Then he went on his journey.  The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more.  So also, the one with the two talents gained two more.  But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  The man who had received the five talents brought the other five.  “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with five talents.  See, I have gained five more.”
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!”
The man with the two talents also came.  “Master,” he said, “you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.”
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Then the man who had received the one talent came.  “Master,” he said, “I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.  So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground.  See, here is what belongs to you.”
His master replied, “You wicked, lazy servant!  So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed?  Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
“Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents.  For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance.  Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 25:14-30

This Biblical text teaches us an important lesson about value creation. The servants who took the risk to invest the talents were praised, and the one who hid the talents and did not take the risk of investment was scolded. I take this metaphor not as a religious perspective on financial management, but rather as an ethical message about the way we utilize the blessings God has given us in general.

For example, when we merely take the teachings given to us in our faith traditions at face value as commandments to obey and follow like an instruction manual, it is like planting our talents in the ground. We don't lose value, but we also don't create much additional value other than what was already given to us.

On the other hand, if we delve into the content of religious text and see how the teachings can be applied to address societal issues and improve the human condition we see around us, we are multiplying what we were given with our creativity and desire to help others. Additional value is created through the people that we help in this way.

In every circumstance we should seek how we can multiply our blessings through our creative thinking and investment with a desire to love God and humanity, rather than letting the blessings sit and stagnate because of our unappreciative and self-centered perspective on them.

Bridal Falls, WA 3/1/14