Development, progress, order – all
these are synonymous with peace. There could be no peace if we don’t have
progress and vice versa. Don’t you think
so? Did God not enjoined us anyway to live at peace with each one, community,
nation and environment if I may add. “As
much as possible as it depends on you, live peaceably with each one,” he
commanded (Romans 12:18). This is actually one of my favorite passage from the
Bible. There might be many others of course, but definitely that call for peace
is pre-eminent and should given wider space to be seen and and live. Obviously,
very ambitious to do and accomplish; tough act for any practicing Christian to follow. But
let us just respect that commandment anyway whatever it cost. For all we
know, dividend later might be that
handsome to our delight later. How to achieve this depends on one’s creativity
and talent never mind how long it would take to accomplish. Want to take the
challenge? Yes, my answer many decades past that positive answer still re-echoes
until today. Nice journey indeed never mind if it appears that no one listens to you. This
was my first challenge it seems. There could be even many more. Just continue
the journey for I suspect that the world would conspire us in achieving this
noble cause, if I may borrow the inspiring wisdom of Paulo Coelho, himself a
pilgrim.
Just as
miles of travel starts with a single step as Buddha would put it, peace should also start from oneself and
should be from within. How could you dish out peace if you don’t have one in
the first place? Loving, showing it or
you would just be a mighty cymbals no sound of peace but muffled cacophony of discordant
voices from nowhere not registering echo of collective melody from other
peacemakers.
How this
could be so? I think this is natural given the very nature itself of peace – challenging us
to participate and practice it for the common good. Human beings given our frailties
and imperfections borne out from the multiplicity of distinct culture, belief,
political persuasion and all that naturally makes peace very evasive commodity let alone tall concept to live. Reason
why we should sacrifice, coming out from our own comfort zones reaching out
those who are hostile and adamant for peace from the other corner empathizing
with them until they realized the importance of peace in their lives. Isn’t it
that virtue stays in the middle? If we could not do it, all extreme keeping
strong on their stand and ground not willing to bend down towards the middle,
then naturally there would be chaos, persecution, division instead of unity,
understanding, fulfillment and development. A couple could be a perfect example
here. To remain cohesive making marriage works till death do them part, saving
their married life could be secured by
bending a little and meeting in the
middle.
Ironically
it’s very hard and elusive to find peace. Right? It’s even easier to wage war
than forging peace settlements, complained Palestinian Liberation Army Chairman
Yasser Arafat back then. Even Nur
Misuari, the Chairman of Moro National Liberation Front (where is he now?) who
forged Tripoli Agreement with then Pres. Eddie Ramos complained that forging
peace in Muslim Mindanao is tough act to do that war indeed is better to take.
But of course, we have to kill to stop the killing Philosophers would argue the
validity of war to earn peace. That could be true in their mind but could not
stand as the victors would always find other countries to vanquished to level
up their desire of conquering more territories., Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote
that in his “Gulag Archipelago.” History from several World Wars until that
7/11 isn’t a confirmation of that reality?
Sad indeed
that force is utilized in exacting peace. Must have been done in the absence of
other alternatives? Is there any other
way out to live in peace? Like education
which might be prohibitive to some, then try ignorance. This could be more
costly. What it takes to achieve that
goal? How many years, decades or centuries you have to invest to earn that
elusive peace. It may even take I think a lifetime before peace would reign. My
take – not just show it but breath, live making it second nature of your
activity whatever you are doing. Simply very ambitious and why not when the
stake is very high. Concoct only in paper without challenging all stakeholders share
their part of successfully building the foundation of peace. This attempt it
seems would be as good as saliva brigade, formulating peace in paper only. That if we could not translate at all in
practice putting flesh and muscle peace what with implacable hostility erupting
just everywhere in the island.
I consider
actually Mindanao as my second home. I’m quiet
lucky that I have Cagayan de Oro City as my place where I established my residence, work and raised a
family there. Though there have been bombing and criminalities rising around,
this city is still comparatively peaceful maybe at par or second only to Davao City Mindanao . Maybe its distinct description too as City of
Golden Friendship have also helped paving the way securing peace of this
progressive City not just in the country but also of Asia.
As migrant
(as we all are) in Mindanao, I’ve been to all corner and places of Mindanao
with my motorbike. I once stayed and studied at Buluan, Maguindanao and finished my
elementary education there when my
mother and my stepfather migrated from Cebu
for a living. This makes me visitor to other places as we live from one place to another because
of the nature of the work of my stepfather as driver.
Unfortunately,
chaos killing here and there were all what I have seen. Might also get older
and be buried here! No cause for alarm
as we have to go back to the bosom of mother earth making us as best
fertilizer. No regret here for as long as you have contributed your best for
peace of your adopted island. This I achieved
making peace and practicing it in many facets of my life possible. Look
how I produced music with peace for Mindanao
as my battle cry; or run a column speaking my mind out for peace for the island
incidentally with a byline “Mindaviews” this on top of incorporating peace as menu for lasting
relationship in many of my class at BSU-Malitbog Extension.
If I have done this crusade, why not
everybody else when Mindanao is all what we've got. Indeed, let peace reigns in our heart, breath and live it as we are all
pilgrim of this planet earth. Why not
leave a lasting legacy that is peace so that when our time comes, we could rest
secure and tell the whole world that life indeed is best served if it is lived
with peace never mind if living that way is only once. This is it!
(12th My 500 Words Daily Installment, January 13, 2014)
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