Let heaven come down, instead of all hell break loose

The whole world uttered a collective gasp when we learned of Hamas' brazen attacks on Israel on October 7. Then, we held our breath as Israel began an unprecedented response to "crush and destroy" Hamas. On the ground, death tolls are rising as the Gaza strip is stripped of water, fuel, and safe spaces for people to flee the barrage of rockets. Each volley erodes more hope for a peaceful resolution to the decades-long conflict.

While all hell breaks loose on earth, people of peace must pray, persevere and act in accordance with non-violent principles. The only path to peace is establishing justice through peaceful means. Violence only begets more violence, building a wall of enmity higher than the iron wall surrounding Gaza. No matter what political side you are on, if your goal is peace, the only hope of establishing it is to work with your "enemy" to ensure your joint future, together. The only lasting solution is to turn enemies into allies.

It is not easy.

Each death, especially of an innocent child, makes rejecting retaliation harder.

But retaliation just costs more lives, which can never come back to life, while tallying up more offenses to forgive. The cycle of violence will escalate until enough people exert the force to stop it.

Let’s be Comrades in the Ground Force of Love

[Palestinian voice]

My grandfather’s village is just down the road

It’s blessed with the richest of olive groves

On Fridays when grandfather takes me on his knee

I feel the shade of a tree that I’ve never seen

I’m fighting for freedom, peace and security

I’ll never forget what they’ve stolen from me

Wrongs like these must be avenged

I will not rest ‘til they taste just revenge

We’re fighting for freedom in a just war

They’ve left us no choice; they don’t respect law

[Israeli voice]

Oh God, not David – he was my friend!

When will this reign of terror end?

If they only knew who they killed today

A soldier of love lies cold in the grave

We’re fighting for existence, safety and life

But at every turn we feel the point of the knife

We’ll build the wall higher and clamp down on terror

Must we face annihilation in every era?

We’re fighting for survival in a just war

They’ve left us no choice; they don’t respect life

Look into the future; what will it bring?

If we continue this war, there will be nothing to win

Our children will be doomed to avenge both our sins

And the cycle of violence forever will spin

We believe we’re fighting in a just war

But the stench of fear and death I’m beginning to abhor

Let’s be comrades in the ground force of love

Sowing justice, uprooting hate

Let’s till the ground, and plant the seeds

In the fullness of time, we will reap peace

We thought we were fighting in a just war

Is there any such thing? I’m not sure anymore

Darkness can’t beget light, nor hatred birth love

To walk in the light, we must call forth the dawn

Forgiveness, they say, is not for you, but for me

After suffering deeply, it’s the only way to break free

Looking into the future, what do I hope to see?

So much as it is possible, let it begin with me

Let the sun rise and warm my cold, deadened heart

Let me learn to forgive, to be healed, to be whole

Let’s be comrades in the ground force of love

Sowing justice, harvesting grace

Let’s till the ground, and plant the seeds

In the fullness of time, we will reap peace

Look into the future; what’s that you see?

A glow on the horizon, the dawning of day?

Ignite your heart with the sunrise of love

Until it shines in the darkness, lighting the path to peace