A Peace of My Mind

Seasons

December 10, 2018 by johnnoltner

Life has seasons, and so does this work. Fall was a busy season on the road, hauling the exhibits and leading programming at colleges and conferences across the country. It was an exciting and robust schedule, but the last run was 30 days and 5,000 miles long. By the time it was over, I was ready for a break. I returned home November 16 and went straight into harvest mode. For those of you who don’t know, Karen and I […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: home, plan, reflect, seasons, travel, vision, writing

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Tennessee Tech

November 27, 2018 by johnnoltner

It continues to amaze me how a small gesture can change someone’s day, or their life. We’ve all had it happen to us. We all have the power to offer it to others. A Peace of My Mind visited Tennessee Tech and asked, “When has someone reached out to lift you up?”

Categories: Blog • Tags: care, caring, encouragement, friendship, kindness, love, service, support

Gratitude and sacrifice

November 22, 2018 by johnnoltner

We’ve been talking about how we care for one another this fall…how we lift one another up…how we build relationships that allow all people to thrive. In this season of gratitude, think about how you got where you are today. Who has helped you? Who has encouraged? Are there ways you can do the same for others? At West Virginia University at Parkersburg, we asked, “What is the greatest sacrifice anyone has made for you?” It might be an interesting […]

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Tony and Jenny Potts

November 20, 2018 by johnnoltner

“I think you have to think life…right ’til the end…and then you think eternal life.” I met Tony and Jenny Potts at a Bruderhof community in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The Bruderhof are Christians, living in community…they share resources, faith, and a life-long commitment to care for one another. Tony: We are here to serve others. It’s not a life of getting. It’s a life of trying to see where you can support others, show love and do also […]

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Charlottesville

November 5, 2018 by johnnoltner

Yesterday was a driving day. From Parkersburg, West Virginia to Richmond, Virginia to pack up an exhibit at University of Richmond. We stopped at a rest area just across the border into Virginia and I looked at the map. “We’ll go right past Charlottesville,” I said. “We should stop and see if we can find the place.” It was just about dusk when we rolled in. 60 degrees and clear skies, which feels pretty good to a Minnesotan in November. […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: Confederate, counter protest, heyer, kind, Life, love, memorial, noh8, peace, protest, robert e lee, together

Dreamers and planners

October 27, 2018 by johnnoltner

“You do all these inspiring things,” she said. “I’m just a planner.” I thought for a minute. One of the things I love about A Peace of My Mind is that it lets me drop into different communities and spark interesting conversations. I meet new people and I see the creative ways that people work toward positive change in the world. One of the challenges is that I don’t get to stay. Before we get too far into the conversation, […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: APA, community, community development, effective, justice, planning, urban planning

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Syracuse University

October 22, 2018 by johnnoltner

We forget to lay down our burdens. We forget that we can heal. We put up walls and isolate and push away when the thing we want most is to connect. We convince ourselves we are powerless and forget the power of five simple words: “I’m sorry.” and… “I forgive you.” A Peace of My Mind visited Syracuse University and asked, “When have you found the courage to bridge a divide in a relationship?”

Categories: Blog • Tags: apologize, bridgebuilding, healing, peace, reconciliation, relationship

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City boy in the country

October 18, 2018 by johnnoltner

I live in the city, but my wife and I have a Christmas tree farm. So I’ve seen the divide. I’ve been on both sides of it. I know how my farm neighbors feel when yet another city person buys the field down the road. I know how my city friends joke about life in the country. I’ve seen kindness and patience on both sides, but I’ve seen lack of understanding and frustration as well. There are differences. In priorities, […]

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Alvernia University

October 4, 2018 by johnnoltner

At Alvernia University, we partnered with the Office of Multicultural Engagement and asked, “How does participating in service provide hope?” At times, I have been asked, “Aren’t you just preaching to the choir?” I don’t think that is the case, but even if it were…the truth is, the choir needs encouragement, too. Working for the common good, concern with building community, striving toward justice…these can be lofty goals, tiring work, and when the problems are large, people can become discouraged. […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: alvernia, black and white, encourage, hope, inspirational, inspire, multicultural, photography, preach, quotes, service, stories

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Ela Gandhi

September 27, 2018 by johnnoltner

“We all have power…and when we get together, we have more power.” – Ela Gandhi In 2013, I was planning to bring my exhibit to the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, had written the foreword to my first book. In one of the exhibit planning sessions, we discussed what the programming should look like. One of us (I can’t remember who) said, “We should see if Ela Gandhi would fly from South Africa […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: Ela Gandhi, Gandhi, legacy, nonviolence, peace, south africa

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A Peace of My Mind

Exploring the meaning of peace, one story at a time.

what does peace mean to you?

Seasons

Tennessee Tech

Gratitude and sacrifice

Tony and Jenny Potts

Charlottesville

Dreamers and planners

Syracuse University

City boy in the country

Alvernia University

Ela Gandhi