I was driving around town the other day and heard a show on “Lost Causes*”. The host of the show was inviting people to call in with their lost cause stories. Some of the stories told of incredible things lining up to make an event or activity possible. Some involved changing people’s minds, or lives, or ideas. And then there were stories about people who “lost” in their quest for something and who didn’t beat the odds to emerge victorious.
It got me thinking. If I were to call in to the show and talk about restorative justice, would my story be one that overcame the odds, or one that admitted defeat. If I were to talk about two people who came to an understanding, or who were reconciled, even though they were determined to dislike the other, my lost cause would have a happy ending.
If, on the other hand, I were to talk about the ongoing struggle to promote restorative justice among government officials, among community members and/or in the media, I might feel like we hadn’t made much progress, and the work is, indeed, a lost cause.
But, don’t stop here! Near the end of the show, an individual with amazing resilience talked about the importance of the journey. Just because the end doesn’t turn out how we want, doesn’t mean it is a lost cause. For one thing, we haven’t reached the end! Our work for real justice will go on for as long as people live on the earth. Second, think about all the wonderful things that have happened along the way – the people we have met, the changes that have happened, the growth of the field of restorative justice, and the transformation that is taking place in our own lives on a daily basis!
Is the struggle for restorative justice in our justice system, our schools, or our communities a lost cause. Oh no! The cause is NOT lost! We will carry on working for justice!
* check out CBC’s DNTO with Sook-Lin Lee
Mediation Services - Thinking Out Loud 