Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 1:01am
Ruin or rise
Column: My Day
Here we go again. Time to sing, "Peace on earth, good will to men." Time to sing, "Let there be peace on earth," Time to say, "Peace be with you" and "Jesus is the reason for the season." All of these senseless sayings we utter that have no race, creed or color meanings to them. Be assured that they are senseless when you have no action following the utterance.
A few years ago, one of my best dancing partners in high school lost his wife of some 30 years. We continued to dance together whenever possible at reunions, weddings, family gatherings, etc. He had enjoyed an enormously successful military career, married a resourceful woman from Thailand, had four children — one of them named after me, I am proud to say. When I heard of the death, I called to see how he was. Minutes into the conversation, he said, "Thank you for not asking me, 'What can I do?'" He continued by saying those are the most meaningless four words, because people say them carelessly, automatically, almost recklessly without purpose or intention to act. Why do we say things we do not mean?
I was in Atlanta last week. Whenever I fly, I pack and plan my reading for the journey as carefully as I do my attire, mainly because I am always behind on my reading and this is quiet time to peruse in print what the world has on its beautiful bald head. In one of my stacks was a small clipping I had saved for something or with some thought in mind. I have no idea what paper, magazine or book I clipped it out of, which bothered me some because I write notes all over everything. The instant I read it, the itch that I wanted to scratch on paper resounded in my spirit and I remembered that peace must start at home before there is any on earth. The clipping said this: "The ruin or rise of a nation starts in the homes of its people." This bears repeating one more time.
It is not enough anymore to just sing about peace. It is not enough anymore to talk about peace. It is not enough anymore to listen to long speeches and rousing sermons about peace on earth and good will. Good will. What is that? It is not enough to point the finger at the state of conflicting conditions on the face of the earth, when our family and personal lives are in such straight disarray. It is not enough anymore to point at the media and politics to give us hope for a world of peace, when you practice road rage every day. Where should our priorities lie? The issues of misunderstandings, conflict, corruption, barriers and violence reside not only in every society, on every continent, but in our homes. Do conflict, violence, barriers, misunderstandings reside in your home? Be careful with your answer, for this is the future of all humankind.
This season as you hear the music, sing the music, let there be peace in our homes, in our families, and then, there will be peace on earth.
— — —
Ester Davis is a writer and television producer. She can be reached at {email host@esterdavis.com}host@esterdavis.com{/email}. Copyright 2007 by Ester Davis.
A few years ago, one of my best dancing partners in high school lost his wife of some 30 years. We continued to dance together whenever possible at reunions, weddings, family gatherings, etc. He had enjoyed an enormously successful military career, married a resourceful woman from Thailand, had four children — one of them named after me, I am proud to say. When I heard of the death, I called to see how he was. Minutes into the conversation, he said, "Thank you for not asking me, 'What can I do?'" He continued by saying those are the most meaningless four words, because people say them carelessly, automatically, almost recklessly without purpose or intention to act. Why do we say things we do not mean?
I was in Atlanta last week. Whenever I fly, I pack and plan my reading for the journey as carefully as I do my attire, mainly because I am always behind on my reading and this is quiet time to peruse in print what the world has on its beautiful bald head. In one of my stacks was a small clipping I had saved for something or with some thought in mind. I have no idea what paper, magazine or book I clipped it out of, which bothered me some because I write notes all over everything. The instant I read it, the itch that I wanted to scratch on paper resounded in my spirit and I remembered that peace must start at home before there is any on earth. The clipping said this: "The ruin or rise of a nation starts in the homes of its people." This bears repeating one more time.
It is not enough anymore to just sing about peace. It is not enough anymore to talk about peace. It is not enough anymore to listen to long speeches and rousing sermons about peace on earth and good will. Good will. What is that? It is not enough to point the finger at the state of conflicting conditions on the face of the earth, when our family and personal lives are in such straight disarray. It is not enough anymore to point at the media and politics to give us hope for a world of peace, when you practice road rage every day. Where should our priorities lie? The issues of misunderstandings, conflict, corruption, barriers and violence reside not only in every society, on every continent, but in our homes. Do conflict, violence, barriers, misunderstandings reside in your home? Be careful with your answer, for this is the future of all humankind.
This season as you hear the music, sing the music, let there be peace in our homes, in our families, and then, there will be peace on earth.
— — —
Ester Davis is a writer and television producer. She can be reached at {email host@esterdavis.com}host@esterdavis.com{/email}. Copyright 2007 by Ester Davis.