Perspectives

During the Caux conference, "Addressing the Root Causes of Human Insecurity," I was asked by colleagues to speak during perspectives (a 15 minute time period allotted each morning for participants to address the entire conference.) I knew what I needed to say but I really felt like I was walking off a cliff when I read this in front of 400 people at my conference. Allah (God) walked with me... and my friends were there at my side. Many, many thanks to RR, ML, and JB for all their support and encouragement.

"The past four days of this Human Security conference have changed my life in ways that I can barely describe and for this I thank every one of you tremendously. I’ve had the opportunity to meet truly amazing people and I’ve been deeply touched by your stories of courage, honesty and forgiveness in the face of hatred, genocide and fear. Specifically, I want to say thank you to Mark bin Bakar, John Bond, and Tom Getman for sharing their personal stories of the role of forgiveness and apology in finding inner peace.

You have given me the courage to stand here and share my own story with you. My parents have been divorced since I was thirteen years old and it greatly changed my life. I always blamed myself for what happened and my world fell to pieces around me when my dad left. Somehow, with the help of my mom and my family, I managed to pick up the pieces and move on with the new awareness that my dad would no longer be a part of my life. He had always believed in me, embodied my hopes and dreams and challenged me to be a better person and just like that he was gone. The divorce became final and my life changed forever.

I’ve held unto this hurt and pain for the past 12 years and I have very rarely shared my personal story with anyone. Two years ago, my dad called me for the very first time, in ten years. I had no idea what to say to him and even though I still love him I knew I could not let him be a part of my life again.

Since the beginning of this conference I’ve been extremely engaged and challenged by most of the speakers here, and I have learned a great deal from your courage, idealism and hope. Initiatives of Change has taught me that before I can change the world, I must change myself. After this conference, I fly home and I have decided to forgive my dad and set myself free."