WHO puLLS THE CORdS OF WAR?

T he Sikh couple, helping granny out, step out of their estate vehicle then turn to let down the infant decked in a bright sky blue turban, all distinct in their gorgeous traditional outfits. Walking down the concourse towards them are the orthodox Jewish family, three generations from the look of it, father son and grandad, Jewish locks in place, under black hats, all in white shirts and black pants heading towards the larger gathering of other Jews by the pier. No disguising who they were. Overlooking the river, seated under a tree, at the intersection of the Sikh and the Jew, was a Moslem couple, the woman in her hijab, the man spotting the full proud Arab beard oblivious of everyone around them save for each other’s company. Newly weds they must be.

As I, a black man amongst others passing by, sat quietly observing the flow of humanity around me, I wondered what it was about this setting that was proving very different from the scenes of violence we are daily assailed with across the globe. The Sikhs did not attack the Moslem, nor did the Moslems lash out at the Jews, who did not turn on the Christians. Neither did the blacks and whites engage in a free for all, shooting each other at sight. Everyone seemed to respect the diversity of humanity gathered by the Canary Wharf waterfront, a mixture of multiple races, religions and cultures, each at peace one with the other. How deep and true, I wondered, was the genuineness of the peace I found surrounding me now and what would it take to cause each group to go to war against the other?

The Heavenly Father, when creating man, did so to establish a relationship of love between Himself and His creation. They were to walk, talk and act in love daily creating a bond that would make each inseparable from the other. A likeness in spirit and oneness in image, living at peace with all mankind. Religion was not a part of the equation nor was sin but the introduction of both led to far more death and destruction of values than man could ever have envisioned. As superficial as the pier setting may have been that day, there was a glimpse of heaven on earth therein as all our efforts on earth, in the end, must be to strive for that peace which Heaven alone guarantees. Are you a peace maker? May the Lord help us love our neighbors this day as we love ourselves.