The Journey of a Peacemaker: Mother of Peace Book Synopsis
Personal journeys are always helpful to learn from. You come to understand a person better and can also apply their struggles and understandings to your own life. In Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s 2020 memoir, Mother of Peace: And God Shall Wipe Away All Tears from Their Eyes, she teaches readers powerful lessons on hope, love, and overcoming difficult challenges.
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon
As a young woman, these messages resonated with me the most. Fellow interns and staff members from WFWP USA/International and I, came to share these inspiring messages from Mother Moon in our Mother of Peace Study Group. We met every Friday afternoon for several weeks, all sharing thoughts and key takeaways from multiple chapters.
We started our discussion with the first three chapters of the book, where Mother Moon introduces readers to her birth-place, her identity as God’s only begotten daughter*, and her first glimpse of women leading in non-violent demonstrations to achieve a peaceful world. Members of our group discussion expressed interest and amazement toward the start of Mother Moon’s journey to create a peaceful world and goal to save humanity.
Our profound interest and amazement towards Mother Moon’s retelling of her accomplishments and challenges continued throughout the following chapters. We read how Mother Moon journeyed across the 38th parallel to escape North Korea, experienced the devastating impacts of war and witnessed her husband (Dr. Rev. Sun Myung Moon) being sent away to prison. Still, Mother Moon remained resilient and sacrificed herself to help people throughout the world.
In one passage, she plants Daffodils in the Belvedere estate in Tarrytown, New York. She writes: “Daffodils are the harbingers of spring. As the first flowers to pierce through the frozen ground after withstanding the cold of winter, they herald the coming of warmth and new life. I am always amazed at this providence displayed by Mother Nature and by the strength of the sprouts that appear where snow still remains. Roses and lilies that bloom in spring or midsummer are beautiful, but I most appreciate that little daffodil, whose humble, unassuming bloom breaks the spell of cold winter. Called to be the only begotten Daughter* and True Mother, my path is to break through the icy grip of human sin and help bring God’s blessing to the world.” (pages 131-132 in the first printed edition).
Members of our group discussion resonated with this passage and commented on the lyrical symbolism of the flower.
But there were many other moments where we also continued to see Mother Moon’s passionate and caring spirit. In Chapter 10, she travels to Gorée Island in Senegal, where she offers a prayer for thousands of souls who suffered at the hands of slavery. This chapter, in particular, inspired us to reflect on the love that Mother Moon gives to bring about peace.
By the end of reading the book, we see the tremendous impact Mother Hak Ja Han Moon has made. She teaches us to remain hopeful and that creating world peace is possible. Her journey also inspires us to be resilient and make sacrifices to accomplish our goals. Her life story of perseverance will always be a source of motivation as I continue my own journey.
* Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon views the expression, the only begotten Daughter, not as a title but it rather describes the responsibility and goal she has taken upon herself to uplift and give hope to all 7.8 billion people of the world.