THE EU REFERENDUM

JUNE 2016

We all have our opinions on the EU one way or another, and until now it hasn’t seemed appropriate to bring in the guides. But after all the hyperbole I feel perhaps it wouldn’t do any harm to have one more viewpoint.

Guidelines
“Europe is in crisis, in such crisis that many people feel it isn’t such a good idea after all. But what we suggest to those who say it isn’t working, is that the ‘idea’ of Europe, whatever else it has become, is peace. The idea of Europe was and is peace. And the stem of the idea of a peaceful Europe is worth everything – beyond anything might have come after its inception.

In your mind’s eye, sit at the bottom of the ‘Peace Tree’, and feel how incredible it is; this opportunity to feel at peace. Right at the bottom of this tree, curled up like a cat in peace, feel the utter relief from all old conflicts, contradictions, and fights, from urgencies to conquer; to divide and rule.

At the base of this tree is the opportunity for peace. Feel how good that is, even though all around you there is conflict: not in Europe, but everywhere else. Feel how important it is to be held in the very centre of the idea of peace.

And now, from the root of this tree where peace is the central theme, feel yourself travelling up the trunk. Sense it beginning to open out into its branches, and then its leaves, and then its taller branches. Here some of the leaves are withering; but over there it is flourishing. And here is a bit fungus; but there it is flourishing again. And still it remains a tree, stemming from this basis of the idea of peace.

Now you are right out on one of the branches. You can see a few bitten leaves and there is some mould beneath you. Yet, as you look out to the tree as a whole, you know it descends right down to the root, which is strong and nourished. Despite the distortions and imperfections in the branches and leaves, you are attached at the root, anchored in the strength of idea of the tree.

Imagine yourself away from the tree, standing over there on the ground. You see it would be good to give the tree a bit of a trim, smarten it up, cut out the deadwood. At the same time you feel rather vulnerable – and sad – because there’s nothing you can do about it when you are not part of that tree. When you are off the tree nobody is listening; they are intent on themselves.

It is different being on the ground, not based inside the idea. Look at all that conflict around you. It is scary. But hop back on your branch and, yes, it’s a bit tatty, but now look out at the rest: the fighting, the conflict, the uncertainty, the fear. But, even on your imperfect branch, you can know you are rooted in the idea of peace.

And that’s the point – which few remember. That is the basis of European Union. Whatever else has or may happen, this is where peace is held; a safe haven. At the base of it all, at the bottom of the tree, is peace.

Now feel your own peace. Deep, deep peace. The highest spiritual ideal in our world today is to experience the wisdom of God and ‘the peace that passeth all understanding’.

The Idea of Peace is held in Europe. And even on it’s own tatty branch (remembering the mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan) Britain’s contribution to the tree of peace is… Leadership.

Feel into the root of the idea of peace. Feel it fixed firmly in the world, in Europe.

If one of the branches falls off, you can know that it loses its strength – by the loss of that one branch.”