|
PEACE TIME
Friday Dec. 25, 2015
Peace, not war, please.
When we gather with friends and family, we laugh, play, eat, laugh some more, play some more, eat some more – no war here. No refugees. No hate. No politics. No poverty. No pain, no illness, no suffering. Just peace. And goodwill.
Yeah.
Sure.
So simple.
Intelligent people, knowledge, ability to communicate.
Still, peace eludes mankind.
Is it not our nature to be peaceful peace loving peaceniks?
For 2015 years, progress of peace, progress of goodwill, was advanced more by warring measures than peaceful ones. The very idea of peace-time has changed so much in my lifetime I’m not sure what it means anymore. Because this world is not at peace – just pretending to not be at-war. Knowledge and communication capabilities suggest and imply we are more capable as residents of this planet to talk with each other and make peace with each other than ever. Yet, another season of peace and goodwill meets too many headlines evidencing the opposite …
Silent streets. Here, there, but not everywhere. World leaders, the Queen, the Pope, and many more – offer words of hope, pleas for peace.
Religions aside – I’m sure everyone agrees this Christmas holiday is a celebration of children, by children and for children. After dinner last night watching my grandchildren play with their gifts, watching their mother playing with them – well, that’s the happiest I’ve seen her that I remember, which is her entire life. I’ve seen her high points, occasions and Christmases. So far this is the best of them all. Maybe they all are.
Maybe it is every Christmas with children.
Or any day with any child.
Mark Kolke
P.S.: only two or three vehicles at each hotel I see. I am staying here – in a cluster of five near-identical establishments here, in the north-east part, in Fort Saskatchewan. Plenty of room here, a dog friendly hotel, so Gusta is happily along for the trip and enjoying our room …
written / published from Fort Saskatchewan, AB
morning walk: -15C/5F, calm and cold – traffic virtually absent except trails of vehicles to-from refineries at shift-change time, otherwise everyone is sleeping except for children liberating their stockings, spilling those stuffers before breakfast …
Reader feedback:
PA RUM PA PUM PUM
MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!, AN, Calgary, AB
Good Morning Mark and Merry Christmas to you as well. I hope you have a nice time with your family and maybe even the estranged daughter will reach out. The words “Hi Grandpa” I would bet will be the best Christmas Carol you hear this special season. Although Calgary and Alberta has been through a very tough year, I get a sense of our resilience and I have a sense of optimism for a better 2016. I hope an economic turn comes sooner rather than later, but I get a feeling people are talking more now about “How can we…” rather than “Why did this happen…”. Keep up your writing – it is appreciated by many. All the best for a great 2016! MK, Calgary, AB
Lovely article. Merry Christmas to you and yours, JM, New York, NY
Merry Christmas. All the best to you and your family this Christmas Mark. Safe travels, WB and family, Bowden, AB
Season’s Greetings - Hope your trip to Edmonton was a safe one. From the Florida Keys Irene and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Healthy Happy New Year. I’ll look forward to getting together in 2016 Mark. Sincerely, JJ, Calgary, AB … from south Florida
Merry Christmas Mark. Wishing you a joyful time with your family and many wonderful adventures, surprises, successes and joys through 2016, AM, Calgary, AB
My wish for you this holiday season .. health, happiness, love, joy, prosperity, friendship and an endless supply of grandpa adoration. Enjoy! Have yourself a VERY Merry Christmas, Mark, BR, Calgary, AB
|
|
