The conflict on our borders in Kashmir and the recent terrorist suicide bombing have taken away the lives of nearly fifty security personnel and civilians.
Anna and I want to remember those whose lives were taken away from our midst and carry in our thoughts the families facing loss and bereavement.
This conflict between India and Pakistan is of thirty or more years and does not seem to end. Those who die on account of this ongoing conflict are from both countries. Sometimes the political talk of leaders in India seems to give an impression that killing people from the other side of the border is like scoring a goal. It might be similar in Pakistan too.
Two school children who attend third standard in a school was talking between themselves: ' Why are we killing people of Pakistan. They are killing our people, Is not killing wrong' ! They perceived the naked truth in all its awfulness!
Gerard W. Hughes, in his last book before he moved on in 2014, 'Cry of Wonder' covered three themes, Unity, Peace, and Holiness. In the preface to the book, he wrote:'I write about this in order to encourage the reader to value and cherish their own experiences'. What are these experiences! He has lot to say about living, relating, caring, serving and beholding each other! Having been a Jesuit by his vocation for over seventy years, he discovered the substance of his faith: the mystery of God and the mystery of Man. He used a latin phrase, Tremendum et fascinans from the writings of Rudolf Otto to suggest that 'mystical experience both shakes us severely and yet inexorably attracts'!
To me it is a mystery beyond understanding that two nations have to be in this perpetual war like situation. The respite of tension between the North and South Korea in the recent years gives me hope, that the political establishment in India and Pakistan would genuinely settle their disputes and become friendly neighbours.
Gerard has a theory that there is more activity towards generating war than for peace as the arms dealers, and the military establishments would have nothing to do if there was no conflict. In fact a good percentage of the economy of some countries come from international arms sale.
We live in difficult times because creating wealth is both a science and art and the advocates of prosperity do not bother enough if others suffer while some can become wealthy!
I too am seventy now. I ponder over the paradoxes the prosperity and economic progress bring. I like a phrase, which St Paul used in 2 Corinthians 7:2, 'Make room for us in your hearts...'
This is the way for humans to live! Keeping others in our thoughts and consciousness. That is when our differences do not matter and conflicts decline!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
Photoblog: childdevelopmentashirvad.blogspot.com
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