Peacebuilding and the Joy of the Yes: A Gift Freely Given

Dr. Godiva Eviota-Rivera, whose life’s work turns the hope of peace into a living reality.

In a world often overshadowed by division and despair, the pursuit of peace can seem elusive—an ideal glimpsed but rarely grasped. Yet for those who dedicate their lives to reconciliation, peace is not merely an end goal; it is, above all, a gift.

A friend and mentor once shared a conviction that continues to shape my own understanding: “Peace is a gift that should be given fairly.”

This deceptively simple truth reshapes our imagination of peacebuilding. It moves us away from viewing peace as a negotiation or a prize for compliance, and instead toward seeing it as an act of grace—a commitment to mutual recognition, compassion, and justice.

Peace as a Gift

To see peace as a gift is to acknowledge its sacredness. It cannot be demanded, purchased, or coerced. It can only be offered—freely, with dignity, and with fairness.

Such a vision changes how we approach conflict resolution. Peace should never be conditional upon silence, submission, or selective inclusion. Instead, it must be recognized as a shared human right—belonging equally to all, regardless of history, status, or geography.

True peace is not the mere absence of conflict; it is the active presence of equity. It is the space where voices are heard, wounds are named, and futures are imagined together.

The Joy of the Yes

Philosopher Paul Ricoeur spoke of the “Joy of the Yes.”

This joy is not naïve optimism. It is the courage to affirm life even in the shadow of suffering. In peacebuilding, it becomes a quiet but formidable force—the joy of choosing dialogue over silence, forgiveness over resentment, and hope over despair.

Peacebuilders embody this joy when they say yes to the possibility of healing, even when the past is heavy; yes to the dignity of every person, even when systems have failed them; yes to the future, even when the present is uncertain.

The Ethics of Fair Giving

To give peace fairly is to reject paternalism and embrace partnership. It is to recognize that every community and every individual has the right to shape their own peace. It requires humility—an admission that no one holds a monopoly on truth or on healing.

Ricoeur’s vision of the gift reminds us: a gift cannot be demanded; it can only be received. This ethic calls us to generosity without domination, listening without judgment, and action without self-interest.

A Call to Joyful Resistance

Peacebuilding is not passive. It is a form of joyful resistance against forces that divide and dehumanize. It is the daily choice to believe in the possibility of transformation. It is the reminder that joy itself can be revolutionary.

As my mentor said, peace is a gift. And in the spirit of Ricoeur, to give it fairly is to offer a resounding yes to humanity.

To you, Dr. Godiva, who has tirelessly championed this truth—may your work continue to inspire others to say yes to justice, yes to healing, and yes to the shared gift of peace.