Final Thoughts by Daniel
What was Corrymeela?To me Corrymeela is a sanctuary, a place for peace where the affected and victimised can go to find asylum and peace in a world that is all too rife with division, and predujice. Corrymeela is a place where one can gather their thoughts and rest their feet before continuing on the long road of life. I had never experienced a place like Corrymeela before, and to be honest I didn't know such a place could exist or that the idea for such a sanctuary could be visualised then materialised. The vision for this sancturary had been created by a group of peace activists of northern ireland when the troubles in this country were beginning to unfold with the need for a place where all sides of the conflict could meet and peacefully talk. These peace activists pooled their money together in 1969 and bought a piece of the Irish countryside for 6,000 pounds. They built Corrymeela with their own hands and the sweat that dripped from their brow was theirs alone. This dedication to piece still exists as much today as it did then. Corrymeela has been host to a number of peacemakers, and dignitaries alike, which includes names such as Mother Theresa, and the Dalai Llama. But the most important people that visit Corrymeela are everyday citizens which go to experience life without borders, class, or divisions to enjoy the very existence of life.
I was very moved when I arrived at Corrymeela, it was overwhelming to see the sunset over the Irish sea with storms in each direction but not one cloud above my head. I guess you could imagine this being a perfect metaphor for this sanctuary, a place without storms only calm, and peace. Tears came to my eyes as I reflected upon the great opportunities that have been afforded to me while so many in the world may not have the chance to be able to take in such beauty. Corrymeela does strive to bring people from all over the world to its doors to experience what it has to offer, and it is very successful in accomplishing this. Over the week at being in Corrymeela I had the opportunities to meet people from Ghana, Germany, Israel, Palestine, India, El Salvador, and Northern Ireland, everyone with the same vision of peace, each one with a different road to follow.
Earlier in this Blog I reffered to Corrymeela as a 'Resort of Peace', i was wrong in this assumption, it is not a resort. A resort is a place where one goes to disregard the troubles of the world while being served cocktails with little umbrellas. Instead, Corrymeela is a safe place for people to share their story together, learning about themselves and eachother. It gives permission to imagine, to hope, it provides a place for people to think outside the box, and asks the question, "how do we start to live in a new way?" Corrymeela is a community where poeple come together equally, to learn and share experiences.
What I hope can happen is that this shared vision for a shared future between peoples can be passed along over the great Atlantic ocean, through the plains of North America and to the desert of New Mexico to our own Corrymeela where we can bring our people together to share that common story that is within all of us. We can start this vision today, and we can make it a reality tomorrow. All that is needed are hands to help build such a sanctuary then together we can celebrate the vision of peace.
I look forward to seeing everyone at home, and at CLPS very soon and cannot wait to share my experiences and teachings with each and every one of you. Remember we all hold the capacity to bring peace to all our hearts.
Corrymeela is a place that can really not have "a final comment" - it is like a slow sinking sunset, where the light lingers on and on and darkness comes in flickers before the dawn. Standing on the cliffs behind the main house, the vista goes out to the Irish Sea and to Scotland beyond. Sometimes, if the gods smile upon you, in the Fall (October mostly) they say you can see the green emerald Northern Lights from here. In many ways, that symbolizes the power of Corrymeela - a meeting place for peace and reconciliation of immeasurable influence. Sit in its lobby is like standing at a great planetary intersection where the world's people in conflict come to sit and dialogue amidst incredible natural beauty. Even the seas storms have their own message for passer byes - time will still the storm but dialogue brings the hope that can sometimes produce new understandings and deeper commitments to peace. The world needs more Corrymeelas - place of peace and reconciliation - we have the challenge of remembering and recreating its spirit as we go back into our own world and places. mmm
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