I found this painted doorway deep in china town in Melacca, Malaysia. I was struck by the message and very curious to know the full story. There is much truth that living peacefully comes at a cost at times (if not all the time?). Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Jesus, and many others suffered for their courageous peacefullness. They were "fools" to believe that humankind could live together in openness and dialogue, even love. They were fools to believe that centuries of ethnic and religious barriers could be broken down, and ideed, they suffered greatly during their lives.
And yet, as I write this post I reflect on my time here in S. Asia. I have made many friends and found everyone warm, accepting, and engaging. At any given time there might be three or more religious traditions reflected in our group, yet accord, not discord, rules the day. Is it possible that those who suffered for peace have moved the very foundations of humanity, that kindness, understanding, and love may be more the norm today than 100 years ago?
And yet there is still much anger in the world today. For those who wish to intervene, to be courageous peacemakers, are we prepared to suffer for our belief in a better world? Watching from the side is much safer than being an agent of change, yet in our hearts (in my heart), is that really all we desire, all we are capable of?
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