Day Eleven - Making the Library Your New Year's Resolution

One of the best gifts you can ever receive is the gift of a second chance. Sometimes, in our arrogance, thoughtlessness, or sheer stupidity, we act carelessly with the people we love, with our careers, with our responsibilities. When we're on the receiving end of such carelessness, it can be difficult to forgive, forget and offer that second chance - but knowing that we'd want the same, isn't it rewarding to be able to say, "Yes, I will let it go, and let's try again?"

I'm also offering you a second chance in this blog post, a second chance to attend a program on the very topic of Love and Forgiveness. On Wednesday, January 14, 2009, the Library was going to host a talk by Jim Kenney, social justice activist and co-founder of Common Ground. Then Mother Nature intervened and the threat of blizzard conditions and dangerous roads caused us to postpone the lecture - so now you've got a second chance to attend, if you hadn't registered the first time. The Love and Forgiveness lecture will now take place on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7 PM - just click here to register online.

What will you hear about if you attend?

Kenney will draw on his extensive experience in South Africa during the period of the work of the famous Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He’ll connect that to the emergence of new models of conflict resolution in an evolutionary period in human history. One need only to skim the daily news to understand the importance of conflict resolution in a world being torn apart by war and violence. Yet many people experience and suffer from conflict right in their own families and homes - so there are lessons here for everyone. If you're interested in new ways to solve problems, in our homes, neighborhoods and the world at large, please attend this fascinating lecture by a world-renowned lecturer.

Spread the word - if your church, synagogue, mosque, or community organization is interested in social justice issues, bring a group to hear Jim Kenney speak. He is the former Global Director of the Parliament of the World’s Religions (one of the world’s major interfaith organizations), a current trustee of the International Interreligious Peace Council, a co-editor of Interreligious Insight - in other words, someone who has a message for people of all faiths and belief systems. Learn more about his work with Common Ground. And please join us on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 7 PM.