Volunteer Missionary Movement (VMM-USA) | home

This reflection is dedicated to Will Prior, long-time peace activist, who

died this morning in New Mexico, at the age of 77. Will was in Nicaragua

with Witness for Peace in the '80s and early '90s and, confined to a

wheelchair, he was at the SOA demonstration last November.

You have filled your children with good hope

Wisdom 12

This Sunday's gospel about seeds and weeds growing together (Matthew 13:24)

is pertinent to the mix we encounter in the means of communication. The

newspapers offer us many more "weeds" than good "seeds" and yet it is

possible to glean enough good seeds to make one's daily ration of hope.

Here are some of my gleanings from Saturday's paper:

"If terrorism is going to create a divide, it should not be between Arabs

and Muslims, and the western world. It should be between peace-loving,

law-abiding, humans and violent and criminal elements of society."

Omar Alghabra, national president of Canadian Arab Federation

On J.K. Rowling's newest book:

"Still she manages to make points on everything from the importance of being

kind to others to the value of working hard at maintaining friendships to

the price of courage and the need to confront our deepest fears. Mostly,

though, she makes it clear that love can conquer all, which might sound like

a cliche but is a lesson that bears repeating regardless."

Quoting Leo F. Buscaglia in an article on creating joy:

"It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for

something. May I suggest that it be creating joy for others, sharing what we

have for the betterment of personkind, bringing hope to the lost and love to

the lonely."

That touched me because I hadn't thought of Buscaglia who died in 1998 for a

long time but I remember reading his books as I travelled or listening to

library tapes while driving and laughing until I cried. It makes me want to

look for his books at garage sales. I need his very human, hope-filled

"news"

Saturday, I took advantage of a rainy afternoon to see the film Mad Hot

Ballroom. If anything gives me hope it is that film - hope for New York

kids, for caring and dedicated principals and teachers, for parents, for

learning to appreciate each other, to work together, to dance together.

Yes, in spite of all the weeds, there are plenty of good seeds. Let's glean

them, replant them, scatter them around. That's why Will was placed in this

world and each one of us. We all called to create hope.

Cecily

Mission	Communication device	Christianity
Mission viejo	Christian mission	Mission trip