HARP 7-Day Divine Principle Workshop 16^th-22^nd August 2009

This movement was built on Divine Principle Workshops – the 7 Day content has a special place in the spiritual lives of many members. From this workshop it is also clear that anyone 12+ who makes the effort and is given the opportunity and the support, can have a deeply profound, transformative and joyous experience studying the Principle.

45 brothers and sisters all ages from 12+ gathered to receive the 7 day content, and if the goal was for each participant to develop a deeper understanding of the Divine Principle then it was an absolute success. The 7 Days flew by, whilst the spirit grew higher and higher – and you could feel the Divine Principle in action. Understanding the Divine Principle is essential to live a principled life; if that is the kind of life that we want 2^nd Generation and HARP members to be living, so that they can mature and grow in faith and character, then it seems obvious that providing workshops like these needs to be a higher priority:

“I will definitely take something with me from the experience I have had and use The Principle in my life. The thing is, I have been to workshops before, but I never really took things in, which is the main point of a workshop. From this workshop I have learnt and discovered, so many profound things that I never knew before. For that I am so grateful to our lecturer Uncle David Hanna. I feel that I’ve matured and understood The Divine Principle and the Unification Church much more.”

“Wow! That was such an amazing week! This was my first Divine Principle workshop and I came here with an open mind. I didn’t know what to expect but I thought it might be a bit dull studying for a whole week. But this workshop has been so inspirational…all the information I took in was so fascinating. This workshop truly deepened my knowledge of The Divine Principle to the point that I will be able to read the Divine Principle and be able to understand it a lot more clearly…I would advise people to come on this workshop if they can because it gives you such great potential to become a better person with all the lectures. Plus it has amazing people to make it really fun. J”

“It’s sort of hard to write a summary of how this whole workshop went. Well in one word…it was amazing. Every day was a special day. We learnt and did so many different things…The love and care given from every person (as well as my team members!) was so comforting. During this workshop, I felt so much closer to God. It’s amazing what this workshop has done to help me feel that. This is truly an experience I won’t forget!”

The spirit was so beautiful, that it was truly a privilege to be a part of the whole experience. This content is an invaluable tool to being clear and confident in our spiritual lives, and this workshop was clear, undeniable proof of its power to empower and transform those who choose to receive it. Special thanks to the Staff and Team Leaders: Uncle David Hanna, Aunty Mercedes Gonzalez, Aunty Conchita Garcia, Yoshiko Chellew, Kenta Barrett, Natasha Earle, Rosanna O’Connell, Ruth Johnson, Jonathan Haines, Daniel Lindstrom, Jonathan Bateman, and Erena Shaw. Real familial relationships were established in the space of 7 days; a time when everyone present was moved by the Divine.

Summer Workshop for UK HARP 2009 – “Rebels with a Cause” 25th-30th August 2009

85 Family members joined the rebellion at the UK HARP summer workshop 2009; with the motto ‘Rebels With a Cause’ we were able to create an amazing atmosphere of love, learning and energy in 4 ½ fully filled days together. One aspect of the workshop focused on our ‘Roots’; lectures by Uncle Tim Read on the course of True Parents and the 1st generation were reinforced by testimonies from our workshop parents, Uncle Andy Johnson and Aunty Tina Coombs – as well as archive footage of the origins of the worldwide and British movement. The other main aspect was Purity – how living a pure lifestyle is the key way that we as 2nd generation can rebel for the cause, and really grow and mature together. Through lectures from our elder sister Yoshiko Chellew, 2nd Gen testimonies, inspiring Hoon Dok Hae and discussions, we were able to greater realise that we have all have this cause to fight for. The workshop will also be memorable for the dramatic challenge day (filled with paintballing, war paint and torrential rain), and the exceptional team of Staff and Team leaders who took such good care of everyone and every aspect of the workshop (special thanks to Aunty Naomi Sato for her tireless efforts in the kitchen). However, it was the participants who really made it an unforgettable experience, and all that was achieved in such a short time was a great accomplishment. Here are a few snippets from the participants’ reflections:

“The motto for me, means that as a 2nd Generation, it’s my duty to uphold the standard of purity regardless of the pressures of society…The most precious moments of the workshop for me was the time spent with my team, whatever the activity; physical, mental, spiritual – it always felt like we were one unit – family!”

“The motto “Rebels with a Cause” didn’t mean much to me at all, but now I can understand it, and make it MY OWN. It means standing up for your beliefs, going against the fallen society and going the hard way even if we struggle”

“This workshop was a really amazing experience for me; I had so much fun. I made lots of new friends, met so many wonderful people and I could learn so much over the last 4 days…The motto ‘Rebels with a Cause’ to me means being the one to stand up against our corrupt society and to open up a new path for others to follow.”

It was an awesome way to begin the new academic year, and I would personally like to thank everyone for all their efforts. It really was unforgettable, and showed the huge potential inside everyone to give, love and grow.

When I finally heard confirmation of Michael Jackson’s death, I was hanging on to the hope that he would come out of his reported ‘coma’, I felt such a strong feeling of sadness – because, although it sounds a bit much, this was a public figure who had really impacted my life. From early days rewinding tapes, to singing ‘Liberian Girl’ with friends at the back of Maths class, there are so many happy memories related to his creations.

My English Language GCSE speaking and listening grade revolved around Michael Jackson. It was at the height of the post-Bashir, Gavin Arvizo scandal – and in numerous class presentations I gave it my all to defend him against the audience of haters. My crusty crotch grabs accompanied my strong belief that he was someone whose situation we could all learn something from – he was the vulnerable victim who deserved more respect and compassion, but who was ultimately destroyed by the cruelty of others.

I was eagerly anticipating his return. He was set to move temporarily to Chislehurst, and I was waiting to spy his helicopter make its way to the O2 Arena – It was going to be the biggest show ever – and an opportunity for him to deal with his demons that haunted him. He deserved one more chance to bring people together and share his talent. The past 15 years, which should have been overflowing with creativity, were taken from him – this was his final chance to make up for lost time and show his heart as a true artist for the masses.

I placed CD 4 of his ultimate collection in my hi-fi, and the first track I played was ‘Stranger in Moscow’ – a brilliant example of his vocal abilities. A collective sigh from all of us in the room rang out when he came in – he would never get the chance to sing again. It is a sad end to a tragic life; an end which can teach us all that life is something that we should cherish and live. It sounds overblown, but we can all learn something from Michael Jackson’s life as a path to his premature death.

Mistreated, misunderstood, misguided, mysterious, and now sorely missed.

The successive record breaking transfers of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo represents a big loss of talent for both Serie A and the Premier League; I have never been so sad to see the back of such a saucepot. It looks as though Saturday nights will never be the same again; Adrian Chiles on Sunday’s Match of the Day 2 is now the main attraction (though you can he see him on ‘The One Show’ every weekday).

Spain’s La Liga will profit hugely from the recent theft, but I think that in terms of pure impact, the most immediate benefactor will be the upcoming Peace Cup.

Media coverage of The Peace Cup is usually brief (I heard that Rev. Kwak could be spotted on a 5 minute feature on Setanta sports). Therefore, the media circus following Kaka and Ronaldo’s potential first competitive games for Real Madrid will probably give The Peace Cup the greatest exposure it has ever had. No amount of promotional advertising, column inches, great goals, or good fortune could achieve the increased level of interest than 2 of the world’s greatest players can. Indeed, The Peace Cup won’t be the headline act when Cristiano’s in town, but if he wants to impress his new boss, inflate his ego further, and get major photos in the sports section of the generally uninteresting preseason – then he will surely be hungry to make a good first impression.

Coincidence? Or Providence? I am sure it will be a talking point in any upcoming reports on the Peace Cup. It is a tantalising prospect, and it does vastly increase my personal interest levels. What is true however, is that when someone says that ‘The Peace Cup will feature some of the best players in the world’, it will be an unusual understatement – for Kaka and Ronaldo are two of the greatest players ever.

If I were to get all biblical about it I would say one clearly represents the Abel side, and the other the Cain side of the football world, but I think I will leave it at that. Whatever their level of involvement or performance, The Peace Cup has never had it so good.

Yesterday I went to the National Theatre to see “All’s Well that Ends Well”, one of Shakespeare’s lesser know plays, with a good friend. With a run time of over 2 ½ hours it definitely requires a lot of effort, and a fair bit of adjusting your buttocks on your seat, and periods when your grasp of what’s going on is a little bit thin. Overcoming these miniscule challenges provides great rewards – and when the old king said “Love all, trust a few, do wrong to no one”, I nodded my head in serious agreement, and smiled.

A cheap but distant seat provided a good view of all the combovered and white permed theatregoers thoroughly enjoying their Shakespeare – and I thoroughly enjoyed it too. Over 400 yrs ago Shakespeare wrote poetic nuggets of internal guidance, and it still resounds and impacts audiences today. Shakespeare and his plays have educated and changed people since they were first performed, and so have played a big part in creating British culture; I look forward to seeing many more fine productions (at 5 pounds it’s cheaper than the cinema). Any favourite Shakespeare plays that really struck a chord? Any characters that captivated you? Any other Shakespearean internal guidance to share in the comments section?

Yeah. I just felt I wanted to write a quick report from the recent workshop with Dr. Frank Kaufmann in Slovakia. In short, he was AWESOME, the people were BRILLIANT, and the workshop was PRECIOUS.  The workshop was organised by the key people in the European Youth Department – and it was such a valuable experience with amazingly deep content concerning our identity.  I hope the photos above capture something of the workshop – but it is one of those situations when you have to say – “You should’ve been there”. I would even go so far to say that the €80 workshop fee and the £29 flight (GOD BLESS RYANAIR) was the best £115 pounds I’ve ever spent.

This was a workshop specifically for 21yrs and over – and they plan to have one every season of the year: SAWS.

Anyone interested by SAWS? Anyone interested in Dr. Kaufmann? Anyone interested in sharing what their best £115 pounds ever spent was? Anyone want to share their best Ryanair Deal? (on the journey back we were discussing the cultural phenonemon which is bound to emerge – that of ‘My best Ryanair deal was when I got a return to …. for ….’).

Yeah, so – my best Ryanair Deal was when I got a return to Slovakia for £20 pounds. (plus £9 for the card charge)

I’m sure many of you were watching the Inauguration ceremony of Barack Hussein Obama yesterday. It was a great speech – and a great spectacle to see so many different people hanging on to every word spoken. However, what struck me the most was how much the whole ceremony captured much of the spirit of the recent GPF campaign – in paticular Rick Warren’s interfaith and un-jesusy prayer, and Obama’s speech which had echoes of Hyun-Jin Nim’s ‘One family under God’. Most striking, however, was the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery and his benediction at the close of the inauguration, his line:

‘when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around, when yellow can be mellow, when the red man can get ahead man, and when white will do what’s right’

was the most crowd pleasing of the whole ceremony; it was met with genuine laughter as it cut through the formality of the ceremony, Obama had a huge smile on his face and Lowery received a standing ovation of great warmth.

It struck a chord with me as I had definitely heard it before in very similar surroundings; it was in fact the same line that Lowery used at the Washington GPF (my dad informed me that Lowery has been a contact since his involvement with Danbury). I don’t want to draw any definite parallels, or hijack Obama’s big day, but I think it is remarkable that the message that Lowery spoke months ago to a crowd of thousands, was the same message that he chose to share to a worldwide audience of millions, or even billions.

The world wants new leadership of Obama’s mould, and the recent developments in the UPF through the GPF show that we are influencing figures such as Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, one of Martin Luther King Jr’s closest aides, who was chosen to give the benediction on an occasion that will shape and create history. Evidently we are not as far away from the heart of power as I thought we were just a couple of days a go.

(check out the Washington GPF video at about 1:50 from the international GPF website, and the inauguration benediction video on youtube or bbc iplayer – doing the relevant searches on youtube will probably find both. Also, there is a slight difference in what he says about the white man – the whole phrase is not word for word perfect)

Just arrived back from Cleeve House – where we completed a successful HARP workshop with 90 Participants and staff. WOW – the best way to start a year. A report will hopefully come soon – but I just wanted to post a real family fireplace. The cleeve house main hall is now graced with a full fireplace (there was previously a stove) and it is very much the heart of the house. This photo was taken after an exciting sports session (Thanks Uncle Mike) – and everyone was warming their hands together – sharing the light and warmth that the fire offers. It’s a bit blurry – but there is natural joy.

I had a couple of interesting experiences with elderly people the other day – and it made me think quite a bit about inter-generational issues.

I had been at my local library and finished a marathon 4hr long film (Richard III – the longest film I have ever watched in my life), so feeling exhausted I decided to go home. On my way to the bus stop a slightly elderly woman fell on me. It was quite sudden – she had tripped on a paving slab and was understandably shocked – so I helped her back on her feet, picked up her keys and her Christmas Yule log that she had dropped. Another onlooker and I made sure she was okay, she said thanks and walked on. My leg, however, did not feel too great; it’s not usual for someone to fall on your leg.

Anyhow, I walked gingerly to the bus stop and waited with the fellow members of the bus brigade: high school children with stubby ties, early Christmas shoppers getting a head start, and elderly women who forget to get the bus before the school children descended, and who tell each other that next time they must get the bus well before 3:30. The bus came and we packed it; it was so packed that the driver didn’t stop at the next 3 bus stops, so packed that when the driver did finally stop to let passengers off he had to open both doors to minimize the amount of awkward squeezes. My rucksack was also packed; so packed that I could barely close the zip, and so packed that it doubled the thickness of my body.

A few minutes into the journey I got quite a hefty shove on my rucksack, two elderly women were seated and the one next to the window angrily expressed her grievance:

“Your bag is hitting this lady in the face, could you move it. Please.”

‘Hitting this lady in the face’ was a bit overegging it – I think ‘comfortably hanging 10cm away from her face’ was more accurate. However, realising that my swelling rucksack could appear threatening to an elderly woman at head height, I apologised and took it off one shoulder – to ensure that there was no risk of it hitting her. A few minutes later I got an even angrier shove and an even eggier tone of voice:

“You’re STILL hitting this lady in the face. Could you remove your bag. Please.”

By now, surrounding passengers must have thought that the lady was getting quite a battering, and even though she wasn’t (I think my bag was 15cm away now), I took my bag off and held it and said to her calmly and with a smile:

“I’m sorry, but you could be a bit more polite when you ask”

Big mistake. After telling me off: “Well I asked you before, but you did nothing whatsoever”, and tutting and huffing she proceeded to whisper to the lady who I had been phantom hitting. Their whispering was more like talking, so everyone could hear their discussion about how I was a typical example of how things really ain’t what they used to be. Phrases like, ‘It would have never happened in our day’, ‘it’s a sign of the times’, and ‘that’s the youth of today’.

On reflection, I shouldn’t have said anything back to her, and I should have been been a bit more understanding; I guess the lady was just speaking up for her friend, and I should have been more spatially aware in regards to my bag. However, what I realised most of all was how negatively the youth of today are collectively viewed by the elderly community; they really feel that the younger generation will bring about the end of this great nation. Even though her comments weren’t entirely fair, I have to say that I’m glad she gave me an earful. My two contrasting experiences on that journey home made me think a lot – elderly people need more understanding and more respect, so when I’m out and about this Christmas season, I’ll make a bit more effort.

When I first heard of ‘the family fireplace’ project I thought: ‘Nice idea, sounds good, why not, it’s about time’. I probably nodded my head gently and scratched my chin.

It was only later on that I realised how valuable a functioning and well designed website could be for improving communication in our community.

So now if you ask me about ‘the family fireplace’ I would say: ‘Brilliant project that has the potential to properly communicate to the whole community’ – I am sure that over time it can become a brilliant resource and meeting point for the many arms and legs of our movement, so that we can finally say goodbye to that troublesome and uninvited party-pooper Miss Communication.

Importantly, when we talk of communication, we need to see it as something far more than unopened emails and awkward phone calls; rather it is a sharing of ideas, information, and experiences which can actually strengthen community. Communication builds community, so I think we should welcome this new venture and play our part in its growth and development.

As a part of the FFWPU, I hope that as a HARP community we also take the opportunity to improve our communication through the website, and that we can make it a central meeting point for all HARP related information. It’s in its infancy at the moment – so we’ve got to make sure it makes it to take its first steps, and before we know it, it will be running wild and free, all grown up and saving china (sniff sniff).

So, whether you visualise a classic fireplace with a chimney, or a gas one with fake coals, or one of those trendy wood burning stoves – let’s make sure it does its job properly; keeping us warm and giving us a place to meet around, and let’s not waste precious energy – especially in this current economic downturn, and gloomy financial climate when everyone is eating big bowls of credit crunchy nut cornflakes for breakfast.