Where does it all start?
It was a bright and sunny morning. After i got up from bed, I finished my daily devotional and said my morning prayers. "make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred, let me bring your love." kept playing inside my head as I was about to get ready for the day.
As I went down to the kitchen, I sensed that our house is awfully and unusually quiet. I couldn't figure out why. Oh well, I turned on the television to chech if theres anything interesting to watch. I chanced upon channel 5 where reporters have flocked into the area where a middle aged man is lying dead, shot by an anonymous criminal.
" live from the crime scene. The police has just announced a nationwide search for this heartless murderer on the loose."
In politics, the president have just granted pardon to a plunderer, who was guilty of stealing the people's money."
" meanwhile, in the city, the untoward incident shocked thousands of shoppers. Different angles have been looked into to determine the root cause of this tragedy."
I couldn't take anymore of these bad news so I switched the tv off and went upstairs to read. On my way up, I figured the reason why our place is at turmoil is because we have a lot of injustices and theres no end to it if we let the abuse continue. But if we act upon these injustices as one people, then we might have the chance to have peace we long for.
Just when I was about to open the door to my room, I heard a loud scream. It came from my parents bedroom. Before I could run to check, my mother stormed out of their bedroom, a mess and crying. " Catherine, let's leave this house. I cant stand living with your father anymore." was what she told me between sobs. " Why mom? What happened? What is it this time?" I asked her. I was really worried why she was crying so hard. " I said, go pack your bags! No questions asked." she began to shout at me. " no mom, I wont go." and then came out dad with a bag of clothes. He was ready to throw it right at mom's face. " stop it dad! Dad please! Mom please stop it! Please stop fighting! " was my endless cry as I was about to part them from hitting each other. But the shouting never stopped.
I covered my ears to strain off the bitter exchange of words. " stop please. Stop... Please... " you dont have to say you love me. Just be close at hand." I covered my eyes so that I cannot see them hitting each other. Why, why cant we have peace in this family?
" Catherine, leave me and your mother alone." dad muttered, but it was already too late. Mom hurriedly went out of the door, carrying all her stuff without even looking back.
Their fights were becoming a daily routine. Dad says one thing, mom says another, and they start arguing and shouting at each other. Now the house is so quiet. So quiet, I could hear the sad beatings of my heart.
Is this peace? Is silence equal to being oeaceful? I mean, who are we kidding right? How can we have peace in our world if even our family cannot stand a day without fighting? It's simply impossible!
Then, the words of confiucius resonated to my ear. " a peaceful world is built by individuals at peace. It all starts from within us."
Yes! Peace cannot be defined by the silence of the cemetery but the spirit of unity alive in every individual.
Mom, dad, if you can't patch things up and forgiving each other, then, it will be a long time before we can have peace in this family.
In our world, the call of time is to have peace. Without unity, justice and truth, peace will still remain as an elusive and fleeting dream of our nation. Where does it all start? Right in the very core of our being. Peace and unity start with me!
It was a bright and sunny morning. After i got up from bed, I finished my daily devotional and said my morning prayers. "make me a channel of your peace, where there is hatred, let me bring your love." kept playing inside my head as I was about to get ready for the day.
As I went down to the kitchen, I sensed that our house is awfully and unusually quiet. I couldn't figure out why. Oh well, I turned on the television to chech if theres anything interesting to watch. I chanced upon channel 5 where reporters have flocked into the area where a middle aged man is lying dead, shot by an anonymous criminal.
" live from the crime scene. The police has just announced a nationwide search for this heartless murderer on the loose."
In politics, the president have just granted pardon to a plunderer, who was guilty of stealing the people's money."
" meanwhile, in the city, the untoward incident shocked thousands of shoppers. Different angles have been looked into to determine the root cause of this tragedy."
I couldn't take anymore of these bad news so I switched the tv off and went upstairs to read. On my way up, I figured the reason why our place is at turmoil is because we have a lot of injustices and theres no end to it if we let the abuse continue. But if we act upon these injustices as one people, then we might have the chance to have peace we long for.
Just when I was about to open the door to my room, I heard a loud scream. It came from my parents bedroom. Before I could run to check, my mother stormed out of their bedroom, a mess and crying. " Catherine, let's leave this house. I cant stand living with your father anymore." was what she told me between sobs. " Why mom? What happened? What is it this time?" I asked her. I was really worried why she was crying so hard. " I said, go pack your bags! No questions asked." she began to shout at me. " no mom, I wont go." and then came out dad with a bag of clothes. He was ready to throw it right at mom's face. " stop it dad! Dad please! Mom please stop it! Please stop fighting! " was my endless cry as I was about to part them from hitting each other. But the shouting never stopped.
I covered my ears to strain off the bitter exchange of words. " stop please. Stop... Please... " you dont have to say you love me. Just be close at hand." I covered my eyes so that I cannot see them hitting each other. Why, why cant we have peace in this family?
" Catherine, leave me and your mother alone." dad muttered, but it was already too late. Mom hurriedly went out of the door, carrying all her stuff without even looking back.
Their fights were becoming a daily routine. Dad says one thing, mom says another, and they start arguing and shouting at each other. Now the house is so quiet. So quiet, I could hear the sad beatings of my heart.
Is this peace? Is silence equal to being oeaceful? I mean, who are we kidding right? How can we have peace in our world if even our family cannot stand a day without fighting? It's simply impossible!
Then, the words of confiucius resonated to my ear. " a peaceful world is built by individuals at peace. It all starts from within us."
Yes! Peace cannot be defined by the silence of the cemetery but the spirit of unity alive in every individual.
Mom, dad, if you can't patch things up and forgiving each other, then, it will be a long time before we can have peace in this family.
In our world, the call of time is to have peace. Without unity, justice and truth, peace will still remain as an elusive and fleeting dream of our nation. Where does it all start? Right in the very core of our being. Peace and unity start with me!