For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace…. Isaiah 55:12a
Partnership for Peace
Where is peace needed in our community?
Persevering Peace
This is a dumpster near my house that I pass daily. I’ve always been slightly grossed out by the trash that seems to plead for escape out of this rusted hole in the bottom of the dumpster. On the day I took this picture, I was inspecting the ground (to avoid stepping on a bunch of broken glass), and noticed this small plant growing right near the spot trash spills out.
The visible neglect of this dumpster captures the need for environmental peace in our community. At the same time, the unknown plant in the foreground stirs hope for the future when it comes to creation. If even this small weed can pop up through a crack in the pavement, having only trash and occasional rain to nourish it, hope is not lost for a more peaceful relationship between humanity and the rest of creation.
Photographer: Mackenzie Fair
Mackenzie is originally from Indiana, but has lived in Durham since 2020, when she moved here for grad school at Duke Divinity. She graduated from Duke in 2023 and now works for Heartland Hospice as a Care Consultant. Mackenzie loves the community she has found in Durham, and feels passionate about working toward peace in the neighborhood. Mackenzie is a member of Asbury UMC and when she is not at church, you can find her walking her dog Matilda.