Today is International Women’s Day. Today is a day to celebrate the courage of women around the globe and to understand that although women disproportionally suffer due to war, violence, and instability all over the world, they nevertheless have the courage to be peacemakers. Twenty-five years ago the United Nations unanimously adopted the Women, Peace and Security agenda, noting that the “evidence of women’s vital role in achieving and maintaining peace around the world continues to grow.”
It takes a lot of courage to be a peacemaker. Real strength—real power—lies rarely in any show of force, aggression, or simply walking away, but it does lie in peacemaking. Blessed are they, in fact. And women—along with those who support them—are doing this work daily in their homes, their schools, their places of work, their communities. This is the hard and difficult work—to connect fearlessly, to listen deeply, to engage openly, to negotiate honorably, to reconcile humbly, and to forgive ceaselessly in the way Jesus modeled.
For me, this kind of courage is hard to summon and harder still to hold on to. But we are not alone: “For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9). In addition, we are connected to a vast community of women all over the world who are courageous in what they battle and peacemakers amidst the fight. What if we indeed are “One Woman”? What if our courage can truly keep another woman strong as theirs can strengthen us?
“One Woman” was written for UNWomen in 2013 and recorded by singers and musicians from all over the world to share a message of unity and solidarity and uplift women and girls worldwide. I hope you will be as inspired by this song as I have been and allow the courage of women around the world to inspire your heart and soul toward courageous peacemaking in whatever way you are called to bring it, in a world that is desperate for it. In other words, shine.
Shared by Karla Hendrick
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