Last fall I was in Iraqi Kurdistan with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT). CPT has been a peaceful presence in Iraq since 2002, first from Baghdad and since 2006 from Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, at the invitation of and in solidarity with local people of peace.

To see what makes for peace is to know when to break silence and when to be silent in solidarity with suffering people seeking salaam. Contemplatives know that we see and speak from our heart and head.