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Peace preserves: Finding peace through nature
It's rare to see peace mentioned in Newsweek except insofar as peace is lacking so I was pleased to see a one-pager in Travel a few weeks ago about the 600-mile Israel National Trail. The Trail is a hiking path that crisscrosses the entire nation of Israel. It was modeled on the Appalachian Trail. It bears the markings of three stripes as guides, painted on the rocks in white, blue and orange. (It intrigues me that the mystical meanings of those colors are, in order, all light, creative expression and joy.)
Anyway, Wikipedia promises that "for those who wish to walk through only part of it, the Israel National Trail web site divides the entire route into 11 smaller sections:
- Naftali Ridge and Ramim Cliffs (Upper Galilee)
- Kadesh Ili stream and Yesha fortress (Upper Galilee)
- Meron stream's parking lot to Ein Zeved and Shema ruins (Upper Gallilee)
- Mount Tabor (Lower Galilee)
- Tzippori stream (Lower Galilee)
- Ma'apilim / Nakhash stream (Mount Carmel)
- Shayarot Range (Judean Mountains)
- Yatir ruins to Dragot Quarry
- Mitzpe Ramon and Ramon Crater (Negev)
- Kisuy stream and Ovda Valley (Negev)
- Shkhoret stream (Eilat Mountains).
The title of the article in Newsweek was "Land Mine." Ah yes, there's the rub, isn't it? It is land that many diverse and contentious peoples and nations and religions consider "mine." Surely the pun is not lost on any of us.
Israeli writer David Grossman writes of his own trail trekking, "If I had met these people in any other context we would have immediately begun quarreling, but meeting in nature allows you some generosity again."
Newsweek says, "The Israel Trail is an oasis of peace in a tense country -- most of the time. The trail may not offer a solution for regional peace, but for many Israelis, it does bring a little peace of mind."
And here perhaps is a way to begin to work toward peace in a simple and elegant way. What say you to peace preserves?
Abandoned lots in city neighborhoods? A corner of an urban park? A part of a corn field? A table in the living room? A closet in the office?
Everyone, but everyone, needs peace preserves in their lives.
I have one in my office. Where's yours?
P. S. Maybe if more of us had a peace preserve close by, we'd all be able to preserve a little more peace?
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