In the Old Testament, people were locked and located in a place. The great discussion is always about the promised land.
We may think that is archaic, even primitive. I’m beginning to wonder.
Our transitoriness means that we lose connection. I talked with a 22 year old recently who said he had moved 60 times in his life. Maybe that was an exaggeration, but his actions belied his lack of roots.
He was verbose and self-confident, at least to himself. He boasted of being able to leave conflict behind by just moving. He knew the drug traffickers and “stress” relievers in the area. I’m not sure I would call him a peace maker – he tended to leave the work of peace behind.
I am a peacemaker at heart. That has its disadvantages when wrongly understood. Over the years I have rather suppressed conflict rather than addressing conflict, rather sought peace accords made up of one string possibilities rather than compromise (all together finding promise together).
I have this feeling that peace requires people to sit long enough to talk. That requires place. For some that means affordable housing so that they don’t have to move. For others that means finding employment that is comfortable – and rejecting other offers. For others that means deciding to believe in people despite a more favourable atmosphere in another place.
A town (or a comparable community) is best served by those who are willing to live in the place. Yes, there becomes an “old boys” club – which must be vigorously protested. Yes, your horizons have to be expanded through connections and travel, but not moving. Yes, you have to commit to your community. But, perhaps, that’s what we need!!