I’m a lucky man I’m also a professional musician which is arguably another way
musician which is arguably another way
musician which is arguably another way of saying
of saying
of saying music has taken me around the world it’s
music has taken me around the world it’s
music has taken me around the world it’s introduced me to some of my best friends
introduced me to some of my best friends
introduced me to some of my best friends and even my wife it supported me for the
and even my wife it supported me for the
and even my wife it supported me for the years that I’ve been working at all I’m
years that I’ve been working at all I’m
years that I’ve been working at all I’m deeply grateful for that so 18 years
deeply grateful for that so 18 years
deeply grateful for that so 18 years into my music career things were looking
into my music career things were looking
into my music career things were looking good I had a new CD out it was my 10th
good I had a new CD out it was my 10th
good I had a new CD out it was my 10th album I had a full calendar and I had
album I had a full calendar and I had
album I had a full calendar and I had lots and lots and lots of hair and
lots and lots and lots of hair and
lots and lots and lots of hair and that’s when I quit I got this email from
that’s when I quit I got this email from
that’s when I quit I got this email from no friend of mine in England who had
no friend of mine in England who had
no friend of mine in England who had just finished a master’s degree in peace
just finished a master’s degree in peace
just finished a master’s degree in peace and conflict resolution that was fully
and conflict resolution that was fully
and conflict resolution that was fully funded by Rotary International as a
funded by Rotary International as a
funded by Rotary International as a rotary peace fellow and it snapped my
rotary peace fellow and it snapped my
rotary peace fellow and it snapped my head around sideways I thought I’ve got
head around sideways I thought I’ve got
head around sideways I thought I’ve got to go do that now
to go do that now
to go do that now it was almost a mystical reaction that I
it was almost a mystical reaction that I
it was almost a mystical reaction that I had in college conflict mediation had
had in college conflict mediation had
had in college conflict mediation had really been my focus but in the years
really been my focus but in the years
really been my focus but in the years since then as a musician it had been
since then as a musician it had been
since then as a musician it had been squeezed a bit to the side when I got
squeezed a bit to the side when I got
squeezed a bit to the side when I got that email it was clear that it was time
that email it was clear that it was time
that email it was clear that it was time for me to put peace work back in the
for me to put peace work back in the
for me to put peace work back in the middle of my life so I talked to my wife
middle of my life so I talked to my wife
middle of my life so I talked to my wife about it amazing woman that she is she
about it amazing woman that she is she
about it amazing woman that she is she said yeah okay go for that and then I
said yeah okay go for that and then I
said yeah okay go for that and then I applied for that same fellowship it’s
applied for that same fellowship it’s
applied for that same fellowship it’s internationally competitive and I had no
internationally competitive and I had no
internationally competitive and I had no reason to believe I would get it but I
reason to believe I would get it but I
reason to believe I would get it but I went ahead and announced a farewell tour
went ahead and announced a farewell tour
went ahead and announced a farewell tour and told people that I was leaving music
and told people that I was leaving music
and told people that I was leaving music at least for a time to focus on peace
at least for a time to focus on peace
at least for a time to focus on peace work so my wife and my 10 week old baby
work so my wife and my 10 week old baby
work so my wife and my 10 week old baby our 10 week old baby and I moved to
our 10 week old baby and I moved to
our 10 week old baby and I moved to Australia to study at the University of
Australia to study at the University of
Australia to study at the University of Queensland when I did in fact against
Queensland when I did in fact against
Queensland when I did in fact against the odds get the fellowship I think
the odds get the fellowship I think
the odds get the fellowship I think Mason might have been the youngest
Mason might have been the youngest
Mason might have been the youngest applicant for a passport that year he
applicant for a passport that year he
applicant for a passport that year he was just a few days old and since then
was just a few days old and since then
was just a few days old and since then I’ve been pretty heavily engaged in
I’ve been pretty heavily engaged in
I’ve been pretty heavily engaged in peace work both in the US and in other
peace work both in the US and in other
peace work both in the US and in other places around the world and I don’t need
places around the world and I don’t need
places around the world and I don’t need to tell you that there’s no shortage of
to tell you that there’s no shortage of
to tell you that there’s no shortage of peace work to do right we have plenty of
peace work to do right we have plenty of
peace work to do right we have plenty of conflict and we know that we’re living
conflict and we know that we’re living
conflict and we know that we’re living in a particularly divisive time right
in a particularly divisive time right
in a particularly divisive time right now in the US but it can seem a little
now in the US but it can seem a little
now in the US but it can seem a little bit overwhelming I mean what does peace
bit overwhelming I mean what does peace
bit overwhelming I mean what does peace work look like for us as individuals how
work look like for us as individuals how
work look like for us as individuals how do we find our way into that
do we find our way into that
do we find our way into that work here’s the irony I stepped away
work here’s the irony I stepped away
work here’s the irony I stepped away from music to do peace work and in my
from music to do peace work and in my
from music to do peace work and in my studies and in my work I keep coming up
studies and in my work I keep coming up
studies and in my work I keep coming up against the fact that music provides us
against the fact that music provides us
against the fact that music provides us really quite a powerful tool in peace
really quite a powerful tool in peace
really quite a powerful tool in peace not just as an actual tool to to shift
not just as an actual tool to to shift
not just as an actual tool to to shift conflict dynamics and build bridges
conflict dynamics and build bridges
conflict dynamics and build bridges across divides but as a metaphor a lens
across divides but as a metaphor a lens
across divides but as a metaphor a lens we can look through to help understand
we can look through to help understand
we can look through to help understand what piece work is and what it isn’t let
what piece work is and what it isn’t let
what piece work is and what it isn’t let me give you a couple of examples I think
me give you a couple of examples I think
me give you a couple of examples I think most of us agree that in order to be a
most of us agree that in order to be a
most of us agree that in order to be a good song a song has to be creative
good song a song has to be creative
good song a song has to be creative excellence in music isn’t just about
excellence in music isn’t just about
excellence in music isn’t just about adhering closely to rules there has to
adhering closely to rules there has to
adhering closely to rules there has to be a spark of originality you may be
be a spark of originality you may be
be a spark of originality you may be surprised to hear me say that the same
surprised to hear me say that the same
surprised to hear me say that the same is true of piece work because we kind of
is true of piece work because we kind of
is true of piece work because we kind of expect piece work to come naturally to
expect piece work to come naturally to
expect piece work to come naturally to know what to do right and it doesn’t we
know what to do right and it doesn’t we
know what to do right and it doesn’t we know from grade school science class
know from grade school science class
know from grade school science class what does come naturally most of the
what does come naturally most of the
what does come naturally most of the time when we’re faced with aggression
time when we’re faced with aggression
time when we’re faced with aggression fight and flight the theologian and
fight and flight the theologian and
fight and flight the theologian and nonviolent scholar Walter wink said that
nonviolent scholar Walter wink said that
nonviolent scholar Walter wink said that our best options however are usually
our best options however are usually
our best options however are usually neither of those usually there’s a third
neither of those usually there’s a third
neither of those usually there’s a third option he what he called a third way
option he what he called a third way
option he what he called a third way that can be a little bit more innovative
that can be a little bit more innovative
that can be a little bit more innovative and maybe get us a little bit farther
and maybe get us a little bit farther
and maybe get us a little bit farther down the road I want to tell you about
down the road I want to tell you about
down the road I want to tell you about my favorite example of that it happened
my favorite example of that it happened
my favorite example of that it happened in 2007 in Knoxville Tennessee
in 2007 in Knoxville Tennessee
in 2007 in Knoxville Tennessee there was a clan and neo-nazi rally in
there was a clan and neo-nazi rally in
there was a clan and neo-nazi rally in Knoxville just over the mountain from
Knoxville just over the mountain from
Knoxville just over the mountain from where we are now and the counter
where we are now and the counter
where we are now and the counter protesters came out in numbers and some
protesters came out in numbers and some
protesters came out in numbers and some of them came out with brilliant
of them came out with brilliant
of them came out with brilliant creativity they came dressed in full
creativity they came dressed in full
creativity they came dressed in full clown regalia and the Ku Klux Klan’s met
clown regalia and the Ku Klux Klan’s met
clown regalia and the Ku Klux Klan’s met the Ku Klux Klan that day when the Klan
the Ku Klux Klan that day when the Klan
the Ku Klux Klan that day when the Klan began to chant white power the clowns
began to chant white power the clowns
began to chant white power the clowns listened very closely like they couldn’t
listened very closely like they couldn’t
listened very closely like they couldn’t quite understand what they were saying
quite understand what they were saying
quite understand what they were saying and then they joined right in
and then they joined right in
and then they joined right in enthusiastically because they figured
enthusiastically because they figured
enthusiastically because they figured out that this was a rally for white
out that this was a rally for white
out that this was a rally for white flour they had brought bags of white
flour they had brought bags of white
flour they had brought bags of white flour and they threw flour in the air
flour and they threw flour in the air
flour and they threw flour in the air and they had a whole lot of fun and
and they had a whole lot of fun and
and they had a whole lot of fun and people started laughing at the Klan
people started laughing at the Klan
people started laughing at the Klan rally and ignoring the Klan so they work
rally and ignoring the Klan so they work
rally and ignoring the Klan so they work that gag for a few minutes and then they
that gag for a few minutes and then they
that gag for a few minutes and then they said wait I don’t think that’s what it
said wait I don’t think that’s what it
said wait I don’t think that’s what it was at all I don’t think this is
was at all I don’t think this is
was at all I don’t think this is Valley for white flour I think it’s a
Valley for white flour I think it’s a
Valley for white flour I think it’s a rally for white flowers and they started
rally for white flowers and they started
rally for white flowers and they started handing out flowers to everybody and
handing out flowers to everybody and
handing out flowers to everybody and people were smiling and then they said
people were smiling and then they said
people were smiling and then they said no that wasn’t it again another clown
no that wasn’t it again another clown
no that wasn’t it again another clown said oh I think we heard them wrong I
said oh I think we heard them wrong I
said oh I think we heard them wrong I don’t think it was white flowers I think
don’t think it was white flowers I think
don’t think it was white flowers I think it was tight showers and held up a camp
it was tight showers and held up a camp
it was tight showers and held up a camp shower and they all crowded beneath it
shower and they all crowded beneath it
shower and they all crowded beneath it and then they said no no that wasn’t it
and then they said no no that wasn’t it
and then they said no no that wasn’t it at all this is actually a rally for
at all this is actually a rally for
at all this is actually a rally for white power and they threw toilet paper
white power and they threw toilet paper
white power and they threw toilet paper in the air and then they said no no no
in the air and then they said no no no
in the air and then they said no no no that wasn’t it at all this is a rally
that wasn’t it at all this is a rally
that wasn’t it at all this is a rally for wife power and we can get behind
for wife power and we can get behind
for wife power and we can get behind that they pulled on their wedding
that they pulled on their wedding
that they pulled on their wedding dresses and joined in chanting wife
dresses and joined in chanting wife
dresses and joined in chanting wife power wife power the upshot was that the
power wife power the upshot was that the
power wife power the upshot was that the Klan left an hour and a half early they
Klan left an hour and a half early they
Klan left an hour and a half early they had the Town Square reserved for four
had the Town Square reserved for four
had the Town Square reserved for four hours but they left after two and a half
hours but they left after two and a half
hours but they left after two and a half because they had no idea how to deal
because they had no idea how to deal
because they had no idea how to deal with this right I mean they know about
with this right I mean they know about
with this right I mean they know about animosity they kind of thrive on that
animosity they kind of thrive on that
animosity they kind of thrive on that they know about your fear and they like
they know about your fear and they like
they know about your fear and they like that part too but when they were
that part too but when they were
that part too but when they were upstaged by humor and fun they had no
upstaged by humor and fun they had no
upstaged by humor and fun they had no idea how to respond so the best peace
idea how to respond so the best peace
idea how to respond so the best peace and justice work like the best music is
and justice work like the best music is
and justice work like the best music is inspired and planned for and skilled and
inspired and planned for and skilled and
inspired and planned for and skilled and extremely creative there has to be a
extremely creative there has to be a
extremely creative there has to be a little bit of conflict in music for it
little bit of conflict in music for it
little bit of conflict in music for it to work as soon as a melody goes in a
to work as soon as a melody goes in a
to work as soon as a melody goes in a direction we don’t expect to – or a
direction we don’t expect to – or a
direction we don’t expect to – or a rhyme surprises us there’s a little bit
rhyme surprises us there’s a little bit
rhyme surprises us there’s a little bit of tension in that song right a little
of tension in that song right a little
of tension in that song right a little bit of conflict and that helps it makes
bit of conflict and that helps it makes
bit of conflict and that helps it makes us lean in it makes the song work better
us lean in it makes the song work better
us lean in it makes the song work better if it doesn’t go anywhere
if it doesn’t go anywhere
if it doesn’t go anywhere if it’s just one note repeating well you
if it’s just one note repeating well you
if it’s just one note repeating well you know the word monotonous that’s a
know the word monotonous that’s a
know the word monotonous that’s a synonym for boring but literally it
synonym for boring but literally it
synonym for boring but literally it means monotone us right it’s one note
means monotone us right it’s one note
means monotone us right it’s one note repeating that’s not music that’s a
repeating that’s not music that’s a
repeating that’s not music that’s a garbage truck backing up but
garbage truck backing up but
garbage truck backing up but surprisingly perhaps I want to make the
surprisingly perhaps I want to make the
surprisingly perhaps I want to make the argument that there’s a good and healthy
argument that there’s a good and healthy
argument that there’s a good and healthy place for conflict within peace work as
place for conflict within peace work as
place for conflict within peace work as well and we often understand peace work
well and we often understand peace work
well and we often understand peace work as an effort to quell conflict to
as an effort to quell conflict to
as an effort to quell conflict to eliminate conflict but that’s not
eliminate conflict but that’s not
eliminate conflict but that’s not actually how it looks to me I had the
actually how it looks to me I had the
actually how it looks to me I had the extraordinary opportunity a few years
extraordinary opportunity a few years
extraordinary opportunity a few years ago to spend some time with John Lewis
ago to spend some time with John Lewis
ago to spend some time with John Lewis the civil rights hero and US congressman
the civil rights hero and US congressman
the civil rights hero and US congressman and we were talking about ways
and we were talking about ways
and we were talking about ways we think piecework is generally
we think piecework is generally
we think piecework is generally misunderstood in our culture and he told
misunderstood in our culture and he told
misunderstood in our culture and he told me some amazing stories and one of the
me some amazing stories and one of the
me some amazing stories and one of the things he said that I’ll never forget he
things he said that I’ll never forget he
things he said that I’ll never forget he said dr. King used to say to me and just
said dr. King used to say to me and just
said dr. King used to say to me and just with the preamble to that sentence all
with the preamble to that sentence all
with the preamble to that sentence all the hairs of my arm stood up he said dr.
the hairs of my arm stood up he said dr.
the hairs of my arm stood up he said dr. King used to say to me sometimes you
King used to say to me sometimes you
King used to say to me sometimes you have to turn the world upside down in
have to turn the world upside down in
have to turn the world upside down in order to set it right
order to set it right
order to set it right conflict is often necessary on the way
conflict is often necessary on the way
conflict is often necessary on the way to justice and we can’t help but notice
to justice and we can’t help but notice
to justice and we can’t help but notice then we when we look at the lives of our
then we when we look at the lives of our
then we when we look at the lives of our greatest peacemakers the folks we revere
greatest peacemakers the folks we revere
greatest peacemakers the folks we revere worldwide though most of them were
worldwide though most of them were
worldwide though most of them were deeply committed to non-violence it
deeply committed to non-violence it
deeply committed to non-violence it seems like everywhere they went people
seems like everywhere they went people
seems like everywhere they went people ended up bloody so are we wrong to call
ended up bloody so are we wrong to call
ended up bloody so are we wrong to call them peacemakers I don’t think so I
them peacemakers I don’t think so I
them peacemakers I don’t think so I think we need to nuanced our
think we need to nuanced our
think we need to nuanced our understanding of what peace means to me
understanding of what peace means to me
understanding of what peace means to me peacemaking is not an effort to
peacemaking is not an effort to
peacemaking is not an effort to eliminate conflict peacemaking is the
eliminate conflict peacemaking is the
eliminate conflict peacemaking is the art of approaching conflict in ways that
art of approaching conflict in ways that
art of approaching conflict in ways that are constructive rather than destructive
are constructive rather than destructive
are constructive rather than destructive but notice that the verb in that
but notice that the verb in that
but notice that the verb in that sentence is approaching so that little
sentence is approaching so that little
sentence is approaching so that little infant we saw in the passport photo he’s
infant we saw in the passport photo he’s
infant we saw in the passport photo he’s now eight and he’s learning to play
now eight and he’s learning to play
now eight and he’s learning to play violin you might notice that I lost my
violin you might notice that I lost my
violin you might notice that I lost my hair but he found it we endorsed some
hair but he found it we endorsed some
hair but he found it we endorsed some squeaky notes in the afternoons in my
squeaky notes in the afternoons in my
squeaky notes in the afternoons in my house and I don’t mind that’s the sound
house and I don’t mind that’s the sound
house and I don’t mind that’s the sound of learning and it’s pretty exciting to
of learning and it’s pretty exciting to
of learning and it’s pretty exciting to me to watch him work so hard and really
me to watch him work so hard and really
me to watch him work so hard and really make progress and the thing that I say
make progress and the thing that I say
make progress and the thing that I say to him all the time is buddy if you want
to him all the time is buddy if you want
to him all the time is buddy if you want to be really good at a musical
to be really good at a musical
to be really good at a musical instrument the main thing you need is a
instrument the main thing you need is a
instrument the main thing you need is a willingness to be bad at it long enough
willingness to be bad at it long enough
willingness to be bad at it long enough that’s what practice is we work out
that’s what practice is we work out
that’s what practice is we work out those skills when it doesn’t matter so
those skills when it doesn’t matter so
those skills when it doesn’t matter so that later when it does matter they come
that later when it does matter they come
that later when it does matter they come naturally again we may not necessarily
naturally again we may not necessarily
naturally again we may not necessarily see peacemaking through quite the same
see peacemaking through quite the same
see peacemaking through quite the same lens but it would be appropriate to try
lens but it would be appropriate to try
lens but it would be appropriate to try that lens on John Lewis who we saw a
that lens on John Lewis who we saw a
that lens on John Lewis who we saw a moment ago he and his compatriots
moment ago he and his compatriots
moment ago he and his compatriots practiced for an entire year every
practiced for an entire year every
practiced for an entire year every Wednesday night before they ever staged
Wednesday night before they ever staged
Wednesday night before they ever staged their first lunch counter sit in they
their first lunch counter sit in they
their first lunch counter sit in they screamed at each other they literally
screamed at each other they literally
screamed at each other they literally dragged each other across the room by
dragged each other across the room by
dragged each other across the room by the
the
the hair they studied non-violence so that
hair they studied non-violence so that
hair they studied non-violence so that their bodies and their minds would be
their bodies and their minds would be
their bodies and their minds would be ready when they got there this is how we
ready when they got there this is how we
ready when they got there this is how we do the work we show up and we do it
do the work we show up and we do it
do the work we show up and we do it badly and we notice and we make notes
badly and we notice and we make notes
badly and we notice and we make notes and we study and we improve our skills
and we study and we improve our skills
and we study and we improve our skills in a word we practiced audiences the
in a word we practiced audiences the
in a word we practiced audiences the concerts often feel like their role is
concerts often feel like their role is
concerts often feel like their role is pretty passive I’ve found that the
pretty passive I’ve found that the
pretty passive I’ve found that the output is happening on the stage and
output is happening on the stage and
output is happening on the stage and their role is just to receive anybody
their role is just to receive anybody
their role is just to receive anybody who has spent much time on stage will
who has spent much time on stage will
who has spent much time on stage will tell you that that’s the furthest thing
tell you that that’s the furthest thing
tell you that that’s the furthest thing from the truth a good live performer is
from the truth a good live performer is
from the truth a good live performer is constantly tuned in to what they’re
constantly tuned in to what they’re
constantly tuned in to what they’re getting back from the audience and while
getting back from the audience and while
getting back from the audience and while they’re listening to the audience
they’re listening to the audience
they’re listening to the audience they’re listening to their own
they’re listening to their own
they’re listening to their own instrument to make sure that it’s in
instrument to make sure that it’s in
instrument to make sure that it’s in tune and they’re listening to the other
tune and they’re listening to the other
tune and they’re listening to the other folks in the band to make sure they’re
folks in the band to make sure they’re
folks in the band to make sure they’re in the groove and they’re listening to
in the groove and they’re listening to
in the groove and they’re listening to the moment to see if it needs them to
the moment to see if it needs them to
the moment to see if it needs them to step forward or step back obviously
step forward or step back obviously
step forward or step back obviously listening is a huge piece of conflict
listening is a huge piece of conflict
listening is a huge piece of conflict resolution as well it is pretty much
resolution as well it is pretty much
resolution as well it is pretty much impossible for someone to work on the
impossible for someone to work on the
impossible for someone to work on the nuts and bolts of a conflict if they
nuts and bolts of a conflict if they
nuts and bolts of a conflict if they don’t feel heard and when they do feel
don’t feel heard and when they do feel
don’t feel heard and when they do feel heard and understood not necessarily
heard and understood not necessarily
heard and understood not necessarily agreed with but really truly heard it’s
agreed with but really truly heard it’s
agreed with but really truly heard it’s extraordinary how new possibilities for
extraordinary how new possibilities for
extraordinary how new possibilities for ways forward together can emerge yet
ways forward together can emerge yet
ways forward together can emerge yet when we come up against conflict it
when we come up against conflict it
when we come up against conflict it seems to me that our most common
seems to me that our most common
seems to me that our most common questions are what can I say to make
questions are what can I say to make
questions are what can I say to make this better what can I do to fix it
this better what can I do to fix it
this better what can I do to fix it Miles Davis said it’s not the notes you
Miles Davis said it’s not the notes you
Miles Davis said it’s not the notes you play it’s the notes you don’t play and I
play it’s the notes you don’t play and I
play it’s the notes you don’t play and I wonder if that might be the best place
wonder if that might be the best place
wonder if that might be the best place for us to start in conflict what you can
for us to start in conflict what you can
for us to start in conflict what you can say maybe is a little less what you can
say maybe is a little less what you can
say maybe is a little less what you can do is listen
there’s this extraordinary moment that’s
there’s this extraordinary moment that’s happened of handful of times in my life
happened of handful of times in my life
happened of handful of times in my life when I’ve been at a concert and a song
when I’ve been at a concert and a song
when I’ve been at a concert and a song ends and fades into silence and it’s
ends and fades into silence and it’s
ends and fades into silence and it’s been so moving and so haunting that
been so moving and so haunting that
been so moving and so haunting that nobody claps now we have a
nobody claps now we have a
nobody claps now we have a well-established social convention that
well-established social convention that
well-established social convention that at the end of a good song we’re all
at the end of a good song we’re all
at the end of a good song we’re all supposed to clap right what I want to
supposed to clap right what I want to
supposed to clap right what I want to know is this how do 2,000 people in a
know is this how do 2,000 people in a
know is this how do 2,000 people in a room together make the decision not to
room together make the decision not to
room together make the decision not to clap without discussing it in a moment
clap without discussing it in a moment
clap without discussing it in a moment like that it’s as though we’ve all
like that it’s as though we’ve all
like that it’s as though we’ve all melted into one aggregate personality of
melted into one aggregate personality of
melted into one aggregate personality of course there are some people who hear
course there are some people who hear
course there are some people who hear that story and say yeah okay that was a
that story and say yeah okay that was a
that story and say yeah okay that was a lovely feeling but it wasn’t real I mean
lovely feeling but it wasn’t real I mean
lovely feeling but it wasn’t real I mean it was a nice vacation from reality and
it was a nice vacation from reality and
it was a nice vacation from reality and tomorrow morning you’ve got to wake up
tomorrow morning you’ve got to wake up
tomorrow morning you’ve got to wake up and go back to the cruel competitive
and go back to the cruel competitive
and go back to the cruel competitive world and deal with that what if it’s
world and deal with that what if it’s
world and deal with that what if it’s the other way around
the other way around
the other way around what if the sense of connection actually
what if the sense of connection actually
what if the sense of connection actually is the part that’s true and the sense of
is the part that’s true and the sense of
is the part that’s true and the sense of disconnectedness of loneliness of
disconnectedness of loneliness of
disconnectedness of loneliness of isolation that a lot of us walk around
isolation that a lot of us walk around
isolation that a lot of us walk around with a lot of the time what if that part
with a lot of the time what if that part
with a lot of the time what if that part is the illusion now when we bring that
is the illusion now when we bring that
is the illusion now when we bring that sense of connectedness to conflict work
sense of connectedness to conflict work
sense of connectedness to conflict work everything changes they shift from being
everything changes they shift from being
everything changes they shift from being a conflict between us and them to being
a conflict between us and them to being
a conflict between us and them to being a conflict between different parts of us
a conflict between different parts of us
a conflict between different parts of us and that means people are harder to
and that means people are harder to
and that means people are harder to dismiss it means that we can find it a
dismiss it means that we can find it a
dismiss it means that we can find it a little easier to muster some empathy it
little easier to muster some empathy it
little easier to muster some empathy it can change everything every once in a
can change everything every once in a
can change everything every once in a while somebody asked me how long did it
while somebody asked me how long did it
while somebody asked me how long did it take you to learn to play the guitar of
take you to learn to play the guitar of
take you to learn to play the guitar of course the only sensible answer to that
course the only sensible answer to that
course the only sensible answer to that question is I don’t know yet right I
question is I don’t know yet right I
question is I don’t know yet right I hope to be playing my whole life and I
hope to be playing my whole life and I
hope to be playing my whole life and I hope to be learning that entire time
piece work is a little bit like that
piece work is a little bit like that there isn’t an end point that we’re
there isn’t an end point that we’re
there isn’t an end point that we’re going for it’s about the stretching on
going for it’s about the stretching on
going for it’s about the stretching on the way I have this old bumper sticker
the way I have this old bumper sticker
the way I have this old bumper sticker that says peace is possible on an old
that says peace is possible on an old
that says peace is possible on an old guitar case and I have to be honest that
guitar case and I have to be honest that
guitar case and I have to be honest that over the years I’ve become a little less
over the years I’ve become a little less
over the years I’ve become a little less comfortable with that statement I’m not
comfortable with that statement I’m not
comfortable with that statement I’m not sure I believe it’s true if peace is a
sure I believe it’s true if peace is a
sure I believe it’s true if peace is a static state where we’ve worked
static state where we’ve worked
static state where we’ve worked all our conflict and everybody’s relaxed
all our conflict and everybody’s relaxed
all our conflict and everybody’s relaxed I’m not at all sure that’s true I’m not
I’m not at all sure that’s true I’m not
I’m not at all sure that’s true I’m not even sure it’s a good idea but that’s
even sure it’s a good idea but that’s
even sure it’s a good idea but that’s not bad news that’s a reframing think
not bad news that’s a reframing think
not bad news that’s a reframing think about this when we look at a tree
about this when we look at a tree
about this when we look at a tree we don’t say wow what a failure it
we don’t say wow what a failure it
we don’t say wow what a failure it spends its entire life trying to touch
spends its entire life trying to touch
spends its entire life trying to touch the Sun no luck right it wouldn’t be
the Sun no luck right it wouldn’t be
the Sun no luck right it wouldn’t be good for the tree to touch the Sun it’s
good for the tree to touch the Sun it’s
good for the tree to touch the Sun it’s not its job it’s job is to reach and
not its job it’s job is to reach and
not its job it’s job is to reach and then reaching it becomes a healthier
then reaching it becomes a healthier
then reaching it becomes a healthier tree and it also helps the world around
tree and it also helps the world around
tree and it also helps the world around us it kind of makes me want to bust out
us it kind of makes me want to bust out
us it kind of makes me want to bust out my sharpie and fix my old bumper sticker
my sharpie and fix my old bumper sticker
my sharpie and fix my old bumper sticker and add a word because the question
and add a word because the question
and add a word because the question isn’t is peace possible the question is
isn’t is peace possible the question is
isn’t is peace possible the question is is more peace possible can we do any
is more peace possible can we do any
is more peace possible can we do any better than we’re doing right now I
better than we’re doing right now I
better than we’re doing right now I think we can and I think it’s worth the
think we can and I think it’s worth the
think we can and I think it’s worth the effort as I explored my own capacity to
effort as I explored my own capacity to
effort as I explored my own capacity to have an impact in the world I feel like
have an impact in the world I feel like
have an impact in the world I feel like I’ve learned some things about
I’ve learned some things about
I’ve learned some things about everybody’s capacity to have an impact
everybody’s capacity to have an impact
everybody’s capacity to have an impact in the world and here’s the main shift
in the world and here’s the main shift
in the world and here’s the main shift that’s happened for me I stopped
that’s happened for me I stopped
that’s happened for me I stopped believing that heroes matter much I
believing that heroes matter much I
believing that heroes matter much I started believing that it’s movements
started believing that it’s movements
started believing that it’s movements that changed the world that means all of
that changed the world that means all of
that changed the world that means all of us doing a little bit each bringing our
us doing a little bit each bringing our
us doing a little bit each bringing our own parts moving in the same direction
own parts moving in the same direction
own parts moving in the same direction that’s what a movement is and that’s
that’s what a movement is and that’s
that’s what a movement is and that’s good news for those of us who want to
good news for those of us who want to
good news for those of us who want to have a positive impact because it means
have a positive impact because it means
have a positive impact because it means that we all actually do have the
that we all actually do have the
that we all actually do have the capacity to change the world now granted
capacity to change the world now granted
capacity to change the world now granted you start dropping the phrase change the
you start dropping the phrase change the
you start dropping the phrase change the world in company without irony people
world in company without irony people
world in company without irony people are going to do some eye rolling because
are going to do some eye rolling because
are going to do some eye rolling because it sounds naive but the fact is it’s not
it sounds naive but the fact is it’s not
it sounds naive but the fact is it’s not naive to think you can change the world
naive to think you can change the world
naive to think you can change the world the problem is we’re sloppy with our
the problem is we’re sloppy with our
the problem is we’re sloppy with our semantics we use the phrases change the
semantics we use the phrases change the
semantics we use the phrases change the world and fix the world and save the
world and fix the world and save the
world and fix the world and save the world like they are interchangeable and
world like they are interchangeable and
world like they are interchangeable and they are not they don’t mean the same
they are not they don’t mean the same
they are not they don’t mean the same thing if you think you can fix the world
thing if you think you can fix the world
thing if you think you can fix the world I’m sorry to say that is naive if you
I’m sorry to say that is naive if you
I’m sorry to say that is naive if you think you can save the world that might
think you can save the world that might
think you can save the world that might not be your gig but if you think you can
not be your gig but if you think you can
not be your gig but if you think you can change the world you’re just paying
change the world you’re just paying
change the world you’re just paying attention
attention
attention the truth is you can’t be in the world
the truth is you can’t be in the world
the truth is you can’t be in the world and not change it everything you do
and not change it everything you do
and not change it everything you do changes the world whether you like it or
changes the world whether you like it or
changes the world whether you like it or not so the question for each of us is
not so the question for each of us is
not so the question for each of us is which changes we’re gonna make and how
which changes we’re gonna make and how
which changes we’re gonna make and how we go about getting started what’s
we go about getting started what’s
we go about getting started what’s bugging you right now what do you see
bugging you right now what do you see
bugging you right now what do you see when you look around you that doesn’t
when you look around you that doesn’t
when you look around you that doesn’t feel right where are the people who care
feel right where are the people who care
feel right where are the people who care about what you care about go and show up
about what you care about go and show up
about what you care about go and show up and spend some time with them listen and
and spend some time with them listen and
and spend some time with them listen and learn from them and then offer your
learn from them and then offer your
learn from them and then offer your gifts pick something you can actually
gifts pick something you can actually
gifts pick something you can actually achieve and then do it together and then
achieve and then do it together and then
achieve and then do it together and then pick the next thing and do that too that
pick the next thing and do that too that
pick the next thing and do that too that really is how the world changes so there
really is how the world changes so there
really is how the world changes so there are lots of synonyms for peace and I’ve
are lots of synonyms for peace and I’ve
are lots of synonyms for peace and I’ve become more enamored with some of them
become more enamored with some of them
become more enamored with some of them over the years and a little less
over the years and a little less
over the years and a little less attracted to others this one I think is
attracted to others this one I think is
attracted to others this one I think is my favorite harmony beats unity looking
my favorite harmony beats unity looking
my favorite harmony beats unity looking at peace work through the lens of a
at peace work through the lens of a
at peace work through the lens of a musician you can’t help but notice that
musician you can’t help but notice that
musician you can’t help but notice that unity is when we’re all singing the same
unity is when we’re all singing the same
unity is when we’re all singing the same note together harmony is when we’re
note together harmony is when we’re
note together harmony is when we’re singing different notes and they create
singing different notes and they create
singing different notes and they create beauty together through that diversity
beauty together through that diversity
beauty together through that diversity true beauty loves diversity it’s part of
true beauty loves diversity it’s part of
true beauty loves diversity it’s part of it so I can’t think of a better way to
it so I can’t think of a better way to
it so I can’t think of a better way to leave you all today than with just a
leave you all today than with just a
leave you all today than with just a little bit of harmony
[Music]
[Music] these be your usual these be your bum
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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