Around the Campfire

Around the Campfire

maybe peace is a lioness

peace has a bit of an anarchist streak inside of it and brings pure chaos to those who desperately cling to power

John Roedel's avatar
John Roedel
Oct 13, 2023
∙ Paid

It’s hard to be an empath in these heartbreaking and ticker-tape-breaking news times. I can’t get my heart to sort out the constant stream of disturbing images of war being streamed to us all in real-time. When I was younger, I suppose it was easier to think of war as an abstract thing that happened on the other side of the world. It was despicably easy for me to compartmentalize my world so I didn’t have to think about it.

Not anymore.

Yes, I may be thousands and thousands of miles away from the nearest bomb crater - but my heart isn’t. I can’t ignore it anymore. I can’t rope off myself from the terrors of this world. I need to look for ways I can be a pair of hands working for peace in our world. I have to look for ways that I have unintentionally contributed to this culture of violence and death.

I can’t scroll and stroll on by these ruins and victims anymore. I need to find a way to be helpful.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of John Roedel.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 John Roedel · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture