The Silent Walk and the Loud Hope for Peace This Christmas
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- Dec 8, 2025
- 3 min read
Editorial: The Silent Walk and the Loud Hope for Peace This Christmas
By Daniel Chapin, Founder, Youth Peace and Justice Foundation
The familiar strains of Christmas carols are already drifting through the air, bringing with them the annual, comforting promise: "Peace on earth, goodwill toward men." This year, however, that promise feels particularly fragile, a piece of delicate glass held up against a backdrop of national fracture and distress.
We end this year profoundly aware of how far we have drifted from the core principle of peace. The headlines have been a litany of conflict, not just abroad, but within our own communities. We mourn the persistence of senseless domestic tragedies, such as the violence that claimed the life of young Emily Finn—a stark reminder of why our Foundation’s mission to plant Trees for Peace is so critically vital.
Our national conversation has become polarized and punitive, leaving many of our youth feeling that the path forward is paved with cynicism, not collaboration.
The Road Less Traveled
Yet, an extraordinary, deeply spiritual counter-movement has been silently unfolding across America—a true lesson in resilience and the power of non-violence. I speak of the ongoing Walk for Peace, a pilgrimage undertaken by a small group of Buddhist monks journeying on foot from the Southern border toward the nation's capital.
These monks are not seeking political favor or media sensation. They are simply walking, often barefoot, clad in robes, offering a silent sermon of loving-kindness (metta) and compassion (karuna). Their journey is slow, arduous, and intensely vulnerable. This vulnerability was painfully underscored by a recent, severe accident in Texas that injured several participants, leading to one monk enduring an amputation.
Despite this immense personal sacrifice and suffering, they continue.
Their commitment is a profound editorial comment on our nation’s current state. They embody the peace we desperately need:
* Peace as Action: They prove that peace is not passive acceptance, but an active, persistent choice—the daily discipline of putting one foot in front of the other, mile after mile.
* Peace as Healing: They are walking through the trauma of the land, asking for no quarter, simply offering a moment of quiet contemplation to every community they pass.
* Peace as Presence: In an age defined by digital noise and frantic speed, their measured pace and silent presence force us to slow down and confront the possibility of internal change.
The monks’ steps parallel the long, often painful journey toward justice that defines the work of any organization committed to building a better future. They remind us that the most significant battles for peace are always fought within the human heart before they ever manifest in policy or protest..
A Light for the New Year
As we officially enter the season that celebrates the birth of the Prince of Peace, we have a unique opportunity to draw strength from the silent walkers on the road.
This Christmas, let us embrace the challenge presented by the monks' journey. Their walk is a testament that despite the anxieties of 2024—the continued struggle against violence, the venomous tone of public debate—hope is not an elusive wish, but a deliberate act.
For our young people, for whom the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation strives to be a source of mentorship and safety, we must provide this example. We must teach them that true strength lies not in the volume of one's anger, but in the steadfastness of one’s compassion. This is why our "Light the Way" campaign is focused on building bridges of understanding, one community, one mentor, one young person at a time.
Let the light of Christmas illuminate the road for the monks walking toward Washington. May their steps remind us all that the path to goodwill on earth and peace among men is a long one, but it is one we must walk together, with persistence, with vulnerability, and with hope. This is the Christmas wish we must transform into the resolution for the New Year.
Support The Monks Walk For Peace To Washington DC HERE
