In the early 90's, non-violence was just a theory for me. Less than a theory. It was an idea that my friends and my spiritual community sometimes mentioned.
Then my sister living in Denver called. She wanted to leave the abusive relationship she was in and asked if she could move in with my wife and I. We agreed.
The man followed her. He threatened her, he threatened us, he threatened our Episcopal community.
Non-violence could no longer be a just an idea. Violence hid in the bushes. Literally.
For weeks, we studied, we talked, we trained to prepare for a non-violent response to my sister's abuser. Our community held meetings and we had professionals guide us and help us practice scenarios. We wanted to find a way to quell our fears and have options thought out as much as we could.
There was never any violence. After a few half hearted attempts to talk to my sister, the man gave up and disappeared, but my mind had been stirred by the days and nights of preparation.
I began to examine my life through the lens of non-violence. The examination shed light on many areas of my life where violence was inherent in the choices I made...The choices I make. The food I eat, my mode of transportation, the way I dispose of waste, the way I spend my time and my treasure, is often, too often, violent or supported by violence.
I can't change it all at once. Some of it will probably never change, but one of Gandhi's favorite quotes was from a hymn written by John Henry Newman, a Catholic Priest. "One step enough for me."
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