On March 28th, the `Iolani Peace Institute sponsored a special workshop.
Beginning with Mother Teresa’s statement that “World peace begins with a smile,” visiting speaker Jonathan Kathrein narrated his personal journey toward peace for a receptive 9th and 10th grade audience during Chapel service on March 11th. Mr. Kathrein described how a near-fatal encounter with a great white shark a decade ago compelled him to identify what mattered most to him: his relationship with the people around him.
Sharing heartbreaking stories about incomprehensible violence at home and abroad, Mr. Kathrein acknowledged that one person alone could not effect universal peace. His hope was that by nurturing the relationships around them, individuals could create unstoppable momentum toward a kinder, gentler world. He exhorted us to begin this quest by being wise consumers of images involving violence and, best of all, nurturing our relationships with the simplest of gestures, a smile.
Likening smiles to ripples that gather strength until they become big waves, Mr. Kathrein ended his colloquy with the broadest of smiles and a reaffirmation of the dignity and value of individual human effort.
