Thanks to Robin A. Edgar, Charlotte campaign conversation facilitator, for submitting this inspiring entry.

The Supreme Court outlawed segregated schools in 1954, but it took three years for Southern states to comply-sort of. In Charlotte, dozens of black children volunteered to attend white schools but the school board rejected all but four. On Sept. 4, 1957, Dorothy Counts (Dot Counts-Scoggins today) walked down the hill to Harding High School.

Approaching a wall of screaming and spitting white students, she thought of what her father, Herman Counts, always told his family–”Hold your head high.” The wall parted to let her pass.

Woody Cooper was in the crowd. A good student, he was already accepted to The Citadel and his dad, a Charlotte policeman, told him, “Don’t get involved.” So Woody just stood and watched Dot come down the hill, walking right past him while his classmates cursed at her and called her names.

The photo that Don Sturkey took of that day for the Observer was eventually seen around the world. Over the years, when Woody looked at the picture, he realized that failing to help Dot that day was the same thing as hurling insults at her.

In 2006, after Woody’s Sunday School lesson about sins of omission, he told his class that he felt he had failed to do right by Dorothy Counts. The very next day, the Observer ran a story about Dorothy and Woody sent an e-mail to the reporter. The reporter forwarded it to Dot.

Dot and Woody, who are now friends, will be the guests of honor at the dedication of the Red Bench of Love in Charlotte’s Garden of Love and Forgiveness on June 10, 2010. We invited them to be the first to sit on this symbol from our four-year Campaign for Love & Forgiveness. We hope others will visit our Bench and Garden and take the time to find love and forgiveness in their hearts and lives as well.

This reflection is from Thom Andrews, director of Kalamazoo’s Season of Forgiveness.

“War is hell.”

Attributed to Civil War General William Sherman, this phrase certainly refers to the unspeakable horrors that combat soldiers face every day. It also includes the terror experienced by civilians whose homes and villages are destroyed and who live in squalor not knowing what the next hour will bring. It even includes those miles away from the battle, wondering moment by moment if their loved ones are safe.

Engaging in war often is a nation’s response to being threatened or attacked. However, what if we opted for a different response? Following the Rwandan genocide, Immaculee Ilibagiza volunteered at an orphanage that took in every child brought to them - more every day. They had great need in many areas. One day, after passing several military checkpoints on her way to the orphanage, Immaculee wondered, “What would I do if I could command an army? I’d bring it here to fight for the orphans!”

This audacious idea led her to assemble a proposal and, using her not-so-powerful position as an administrative assistant at the UN in Rwanda, tag along to a meeting selecting the project for the next International Volunteer Day. She offered her proposal to bring food and medicine, to read and clean, and to simply share love with the orphans for a day. While this initially fell flat amidst the usual thoughts of repairing classrooms, building a schoolhouse or establishing a clinic, she persisted and her proposal was accepted. A few weeks later, over 100 volunteers from Africa, Europe, America, and Asia brought food, crayons, blackboards, cleaning supplies, and medicines to the orphanage. While half the group worked, the other half interacted with the children. Their only instruction was to act from their heart and give it their all. In a radio interview at the close of the day, Immaculee stated her reason for the project: “because these children are the ones who will build the new Rwanda.”

Violence is a power of death and destruction, fueled by hate. Love is a power of life and hope, fueled by compassion. And love is by far the greater power. We know this in the deepest recesses of our hearts. So, why do we not act on this knowledge?

This Memorial Day - and in the days to come - may we honor those who have fought for our freedom by daring to mature into a civilization where the “eye for an eye” mentality of war is replaced with the understanding that when one suffers, we all suffer. Love is our secret weapon!

Quote for reflection throughout the week
I will greet this day with love in my heart. For this is the greatest secret of success in all ventures. Muscles can split a shield and even destroy life itself but only the unseen power of love can open the hearts of man. And until I master this act I will remain no more than a peddler in the marketplace. I will make love my greatest weapon and none on who I call can defend upon its force… my love will melt all hearts liken to the sun whose rays soften the coldest day. –Og Mandino

From the web
Here is an article from Charlottesville, VA of two persons who lost loved ones to terrorism and are responding with love.

Each year when Mother’s Day rolls around, I’m reminded of one of the greatest gifts in my life–lessons from and memories of my mother. Lately I’ve been immersed in the topic of compassion, something she would have loved. Her motto was the Golden Rule.

As her daughter, I and my brothers were the primary beneficiaries of her love and compassion. I was lucky to experience it everyday, even when she was exhausted herself. In her early 40’s she went back to school, worked, and took care of our family–all with great patience, a quiet strength, and steadiness.

She often was helping out a co-worker, a family in need, a student she was tutoring, or an international student with nowhere to go for a holiday. Each year before winter break, she bought gifts for the elementary school students she taught, placing pencils, paper, and other school or art supplies in a cloth bag she sewed herself. She taught with grace, kindness, creativity, and eyes in the back of her head!

What lit her up most was when she was with family, children, or close friends, entertaining, and when making stained glass creations.

I never thanked my mother enough for who she was, what she modeled for me, and all she did for me. So often I took having a wonderful mother for granted–until she was gone. I was fortunate. Too many children don’t know what it is to have a loving mother. She was that presence for some of them.

Today, on Mothers’ Day, and so many other days when I feel her presence, I quietly salute her.