The COMPASS Podcast

peacepoet

This podcast hosts, receives, and honors the stories of veterans of war. We open listeners to their authentic journeys, in war and after they come home. We provide a platform for our community to learn truths about war and to consider the real difficulties experienced when veterans must carry these truths by themselves. We explore life-giving possibilities for post-traumatic growth, help bridge the distances between veterans and the people in whose name they serve, and honor the vital lessons and

  1. FEB 20

    The Mission in the War Zone at Home

    Glen and Scott dive back into our penetrating discussion about dehumanization and humanization, in wars overseas and in the emerging war zone at home.   What does the humanity of veterans teach us about becoming a different society? Can we become a people not always just preparing for combat, but  honest about our principles, including integrity and honor? Glen shares his own story of coming home carrying the burdens of war, and how his journey of healing and discernment invited fresh exploration of important questions:  What do I really believe?  What are my values? For what am I willing to offer my life? If post-traumatic growth for veterans involves navigating all the disconnects between the inhumanities of war and their deeper identity as full human beings, should not the society that badly needs transformation walk a similar path? We revisit our previous discussion of "necessity," moving into the necessities involved in shaping people as peacemakers.  What are some of the qualities that veterans hold that would help us to navigate these tumultuous days and humanize one another in dehumanizing circumstances?  Glen challenges Scott to discern the role of pastors in time like our present one.  Scott tells stories of nonviolent peacebuilding, and discerns the call for pastors to be in the streets with the people.  Together they identify discipline, commitment, and mission as key elements in the roles of both warriors and peacemakers.  We are collectively discovering who we are.  And showing up will be essential to whatever we do.

    44 min
  2. JAN 27

    Coming Back to Ourselves

    In this episode, Glen and Scott discuss dehumanization, as an element of military training for war and a disturbingly defining characteristic in our everyday life in America.  Glen describes military training and preparation: "You're going to war so there is some civility that needs to be stripped out of you."  He gives examples of diminishing terms used to describe the enemy, of marching chants designed to numb human connection, and of abusive language and behavior toward the soldiers-in-training themselves.  In a practical sense, it is all designed to remove hesitance in midst of battle.  As human beings, we are not naturally inclined to kill one another.  What we have in common can be very strong.  Glen says: "Those that kill have the longest journey coming back to themselves."  This leads us to a rich examination of "necessity,' depending on how we understand our relationships with one another.  Our current military involvements breed a certain understanding of necessity, while people recovering from the trauma of war and those building peaceful cultures understand necessity in a whole different way.  Our conversation then identifies the dehumanizing messages and practices that have infiltrated nearly every aspect of our society.  As we continue to focus on recovery and post-traumatic growth for our service people, we are considering how to address the needs for "humanization" and "coming back to ourselves" throughout our whole society.

    32 min

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About

This podcast hosts, receives, and honors the stories of veterans of war. We open listeners to their authentic journeys, in war and after they come home. We provide a platform for our community to learn truths about war and to consider the real difficulties experienced when veterans must carry these truths by themselves. We explore life-giving possibilities for post-traumatic growth, help bridge the distances between veterans and the people in whose name they serve, and honor the vital lessons and