The Suffering in Olive Groves - Refugees from Syria (in Turkey)

Recently I heard a news report about refugees from the war in Syria, living in camps in Turkey. Olive groves have been cut down for firewood as people have been desperate to try to survive in the bitter cold. I remember, too, a number of years ago, hearing about tragic battles fought in Iraq in an area of olive trees. And I remember hearing about Palestinean olive groves in Israel being razed by bulldozers.

I grieve for all the suffering of the so many.

And I grieve for the olive trees, literally, and symbolically.

May the hope and striving for peace that lives deep in the heart, create the place within from which violence cannot be committed. May those who see each other as enemies find a new place within the heart from which to put down their swords, and seek common ground, and from here begin to plant together the groves of olive trees. I pray this, for the future of all “sides” - all sides which are in truth One side - the side of life, of goodness, of hope, of peace.