Cough of Life 4

COUGH OF LIFE                                                  
By Greg Allan Pena                                        22/09/09 Issue # 4


Peace one day

This day 21st of September is actually the International Day of Peace.
On 7 September 2001, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by the UK and Costa Rica formally establishing an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on the UN International Day of Peace - Peace Day - fixed in the global calendar on 21 September
The project Peace One Day is the vision of English filmmaker Jeremy Gilley. He conceived the idea of declaring one day a year free of conflict and war; one day of a global truce regardless of all kinds on world conflict and volatile situations

I never knew anything about it up until today, while browsing the internet and having my routine escapades with Youtube that I stumbled upon the video documentary done by Mr. Gilley. It was a very moving and heartwarming 80 minutes of film watching. Considering the magnitude of his vision, it is somehow almost inconceivable what he wants to achieve. One of the major hurdles he has to overcome are those what we called “skeptics”, these are cynical or disbelievers of the campaign as they thought the problem of worldwide war and violence are beyond imagination and cannot be prevented. But with his perseverance and dedication and practicing peace within himself he achieved what the skeptics says impossible, a day of worldwide peace, saving thousands and maybe millions of lives worldwide. If you want to see the documentary, please copy paste into your address bar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egqJctPZunw  or go to www.peaceoneday.org

Yesterday, unaware of this International Day of Peace, I called some few friends from the Philippines just to see how they are doing. We had our usual exchanges of hi’s and hello’s, but in the later period of conversation he disclosed to me that he is struggling at the moment and it seems a heavy emotional burden is disturbing him. This is with another friend of ours with whom he is having trouble relating with. The core of the problem seems to be is that there is no peace going on between them, mainly because of small character differences that they tried to reconcile but seems not to work. With some kind of Force and the small still Voice whispered to me, I was compelled to plan a sort of Peace One Day for both of them. I organized for them to have a one day of unwinding and chilling out with each other, not to talk about their sentiments with each other but just to enjoy each other’s company, doing things they feel enjoyed and relaxed. All expense paid sponsored by another Friend. Who knows what God have in store for both of them…the rest of the story is not for me to predict or to judge, but at least a peace for a day maybe all what it takes, to have a peace for a lifetime.

When I saw this documentary, The Day After the Peace, I cannot help to ponder about how microscopic and allow me to say this, irresponsible our daily burdens are, compared to our brothers and sisters who are really suffering in Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq and other part of this world. Their problem is only one thing. How to live another day?
They only survive each day at a time, crumbs of bread on their table is enough to put a smile on their faces. Their prides and egos are the least of their worries, if they worry them at all?
While here we are blessed with the basic needs, and yet grumble how we feel our life is so miserable, but only to discover the reality that it is only cause by us and ourselves alone. Fueled by the pride and ego with one another.

Just like you and me, we all want and desire peace. That elusive and lofty five letter word P-E-A-C-E. Yet most of us don’t have it in our hearts. We cannot give what we don’t have. I sometimes have been victimized by my pride and ego that I lost grip of the peace that I have. 
Our Creator God Almighty have bestowed us this precious gift of peace but the devils advocate is always there to kill, steal and destroy this peace. We must keep watch and be on guard not with our pride but the other creature laughing every time a peace in our hearts is destroyed.

If not us, it will be our children, their children and their grand children will benefit from this peace.
For now, it’s only a one day of peace, but 365 days cannot begin with out the first day. So my brothers and sisters Peace Be with You…          

God bless us all!