If ever there was someone who
embodied peace-making through compassion, it was Bud Godderis; Bud lived in
Castlegar with Ann. Bud died this past
week. Bud was a gentle soul who had the
fire of compassion and love deep in his heart.
He stood tall in the face of injustice and oppression, but he did so
with dignity, with grace, with gentle humour and never with violence. Bud will be missed and my prayers go out to
Ann and their family.
Bud was someone who helped me
redefine what it is to be an activist. We never spoke about activism
particularly, but his actions confirmed for me what I’d already been concluding…
when we show up or stand up or speak up in any fashion against injustice and
oppression, we are activists.
As remarkable as it seems, the peace
and justice movement can sometimes become elitist where only those who engage
in civil disobedience are seen as true activists. Those who engage in other forms of protest,
as in writing letters or blogs, organizing protests, or providing food or other
supports, are not seen as true activists.
Bud quietly affirmed anyone and
everyone as an activist who was engaged in speaking truth to power. He helped to confirm for me what I’d long believed,
namely that we all use the gifts and skills we have to speak out against
injustice and tyranny—and that makes us activists.
Among the many things Bud gifted the
world, I want to name two other things particularly: he had a gentle and
amazing way of creating alliances and relationships, bringing people from
disparate backgrounds together; and he unstintingly spoke about being a
follower of Jesus the peacemaker. The
first time I heard Bud speak, he spoke from his perspective of being a follower
of Jesus; he didn’t speak of being a follower of Jesus in a “Bible-thumping”
exclusivist kind of way, but as one who followed the same path of
justice-making and standing against tyranny and oppression.
Bud’s legacy will live on in those
of us who continue to counter injustice with love and oppression with
compassion. He is now part of the
communion of saints, our ancestors, who help us walk the path of peace with
courage and integrity. He has helped us
affirm that people-to-people peace-making, creating relationships and affirming
each other as human beings is the only way we will create lasting peace and
communities of hope and love.
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