“Great perils have this beauty, that they bring to light the fraternity of strangers.” Victor Hugo October 1989. The third game of the World Series. San Francisco and Oakland…”The Bay Bridge Series.” At five o’clock the nation watched as a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit California and rocked the stadium. The World Series was postponed for ten days. Ground liquefied, homes destroyed, freeways collapsed, bridges failed, and roads crumbled. I was under my desk, thanks to earthquake drills in grammar school. When I came out ceiling tiles lay across desks, bookshelves were strewn across the floor, and walls had broken away from the retrofitted earthquake pillars. In less than a minute, millions of people in three western states and Mexico were shaken to attention. The sun was setting on a chilly October evening. My 40 minutes commute became hours. Although the roads were packed with people wanting to connect with family, surprisingly there wasn’t gridlock. Every intersection became a four-way stop, and people were graciously allowing common courtesy to reign. One sight I’ll never forget was a Boy Scout—maybe 12 or 13 years old—standing in the middle of a very large intersection directing traffic with a flashlight. Unlike any other time in all my experience driving in the San Francisco Bay Area, every driver was patiently waiting their turn. We were all courteous to this young man who was doing his part to allay some of the chaos. In the weeks and months following the quake, it was common to hear people discussing their experiences. During these talks I usually would hear a comment about how ‘friendly’ or ‘kind’ or ‘peaceful’ it was in those initial weeks. Ideologies that separate us were not an issue; we all came together to help and support each other. These conversations usually ended with, “Why can’t we be kind to each other all the time?” This reminded me of the song we learned when I was a Girl Scout: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our Father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take let this be my solemn vow; To take each moment and live each moment, in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Are you hungry for a little kindness in your school/work place/neighborhood? Do we have to wait for another crisis to enjoy common curtesy? What will you do today to take the first step?
Lord, I’m certain you did not intend for us to have so little peace among neighbors, co-workers, and strangers; give me the courage to let common courtesy and peace begin with me. Amen “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14 What are your thoughts? Libby Note: Victor Hugo (1802-1885), a French poet, novelist, dramatist, journalist, artist, politician and Peer of France. He is considered one of the greatest and best-known French writers. Of his 78 published works, outside France he is best known for Les Miserables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
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WelcomeI love the wisdom of the ages gleaned from relevant quotes. In them there is a connection to the human experience that crosses all borders. Join me as I relate my personal experiences, and link the wisdom of the quote to the Source of all wisdom: God's Word, the Bible. Enjoy, Libby Categories
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