Part 1 of a 2 part RYS story by John Gerhing Tall, lean, blue-eyed and English, David was not afraid of hard work or creative approaches to dealing with problems. He invested himself to earn his Ph.D. but never let that achievement put a distance between himself and those he met. David possessed a gift […]
I got an email recently asking me to take a survey about religious and cultural views. I thought okay why not? It was multiple choice and only allowed one answer per question. It started with age, gender, location, but then got right to the nitty gritty. “Which of these statements best describes your view of God?” […]
An RYS story by John W. Gehring A Time of Political and Social Transition During the closing years of General Marcos’s rule in the Philippines, in an act based on political calculation, many families living on squatted land in Manila were forcibly relocated in an effort to avoid civil strife. Das Marinas, a small coastal […]
During December 1992, at the height of religious conflict in India, I was there representing the Religious Youth Service (RYS) and preparing a series of events in multiple cities aimed at promoting interreligious harmony. Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of nonviolence helped stimulate the gigantic nations’ march forward on its path to political independence from […]
In the preceding article, I had introduced the concept of the “Way of Heaven” and that — for Unification Thought — it is exemplified in natural law, specifically in the observable vertical and horizontal structures in the universe. Although the term “Way of Heaven” originates in Confucianism, and it sets the standard for human behavior, […]
“The future belongs to those who give the next generation reason for hope.” ~ Pierre Teilhard de Chardin ~ When Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union went through their period of transition, the glue that held Yugoslavia together came apart. Formed by a treaty after World War I, the nation of Yugoslavia had been glued together […]
And Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to the Father who is in heaven.” Mt. 5:16 The Transformative Power of Service One way to measure the true value of a service initiative is by weighing how much has positively changed after the […]
During weeks 5 & 6 (July & Aug. 2013) of Hyomi’s initial Peace Corps training in Swaziland she learns about local religion and spirituality and how it influences the culture. She also pays a visit to the village where she will be permanently assigned, and meets the new host family. Below are a few excerpts […]
The Value of Digging Story by John W. Gehring “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Gen. Colin Powell Have you ever done serious labor with a shovel or pick? Tackled a day with sweat on your brow earned by digging shovel by shovel towards a measurable goal. […]
When Tonga’s Baron cleans the beach, who can litter! “Eternal gratitude towards the past. Unlimited service in the present Unbounded responsibility for the future.” – Dr. Huston Smith-Scholar, served as an RYS Senior Advisor A Touch of Tonga Spirit The Kingdom of Tonga, once known as the Friendly Islands, contains 176 lush tropical islands that cross […]
