There has been a lot of discussion in recent years about the carbon imprint we leave behind on the planet. By our use of fossil fuels and consumption of goods turned into garbage, we are sure to leave our “marks” in this world. By recycling, composting and perhaps considering using our feet and bicycles instead of vehicles we can help make a difference. But what about peace prints? Francis of Assisi has often been quoted as the one who wrote the beautiful words “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” We can choose to leave marks of Christ’s Light in our world, too. Hopefully the following story I came across encourages you to think about the marks you are leaving behind.
I did not know her, but her life and death- a story of willingness to see with eyes of faith and forgiveness for those who can be difficult to love- is inspiring us still today and leaving her prints of peace all around.
Sister Karen Klimizak was a Sister of Saint Joseph. In 1985, together with Father Roy Herberger, she helped establish Hope House, a communal home for non-violent ex-offenders in Buffalo, New York. Hope House offered a home for men where they could believe in themselves and work toward a better life and future. She once wrote in her journal, “You leave your fingerprints on everything. We need to be people who leave our imprints of peace wherever we go in our world.” Sister Karen promoted non-violence through the creation of dove-shaped peace signs that read, “I leave peace prints,” to contrast the fingerprints left at a crime scene, a visible mark of peace as opposed to a visible mark of violence.
Sadly, on Good Friday, April 14, 2006, Sister Karen returned home after participating in Stations of the Cross. She was murdered by a house resident when she walked in on him trying to steal her cellphone to sell for drug money. Knowing that one day someone she may be working with could cause her harm, she wrote these words in her journal fifteen years earlier, which were spoken at her funeral. Addressed to the person that might harm her she said, “I forgive you for what you have done and I will watch over you, and help you in whatever way I can.”
Now almost eleven years later, the story spoke of how Sister Karen’s dove peace signs continue to be seen throughout western New York; a reminder of her steadfast vision of forgiveness and nonviolence. After reading this, I could not help but think how many people, circumstances, and situations in our world, our church, our country and our own personal lives challenge us to find courage to love those viewed as unlovable. The story of Sister Karen’s life was encouraging to me, and a reminder of how we must all use compassion, mercy, humor and creativity, even when we are stretched to the limit. This, after all, is how we live as the light of Christ in the world.
We all leave our fingerprints, carbon prints and spiritual prints behind in this world. As we prepare for Lent, the start of baseball and the beginning signs of Spring, let’s think more intentionally about how we can leave PEACE PRINTS everywhere we go through our words, actions and deeds. Sister Karen’s hand prints literally continue to influence us as the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence carries on her vision of a world without violence.
Is this just a pipedream? NO! With Christ all things are possible. Go make peace prints in your part of the world and let the transformation take place! You can check out more of her story and what we can do at
www.sisterkarencenter.org
Go, be instruments of peace and leave your mark,
~PJ
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