Hope

Hope is a garden
Sown with tears
Planted with love
Amidst present fears.

"Just Peace: A Message of Hope" by Mattie J.T. Stepanek

Mattie J.T. Stepanek was a child with a rare kind of muscular dystrophy, tt left him physicali n emotionali tormented. Despite his ailments, he was a great soul who started a noble goal as young as 3yrs old. He wanted to b a proprietor n activist for peace. His works of poetry, art n essays show maturity beyond his age.His words preach simple truths of human nature n the compelling need for peace. A very humbling n enlightening read.

Chanced upon tis book at Borders on a rainy sunday afternoon. Was in a gloomy mood tt day due to stress from a new appointment in a new NS unit i was posted to at tt time. Was aggravated by my annoyance wif my mom for her incessant calls to check on my whereabouts n to rush me to return home. Was further troubled by miscommunication issues wif my gf. Was gettin frustrated at not being able to spend more time wif my gf too. It muz b some luck for me to see tis book at tt timely period. Readin the book changed my mood v much. Initiali i was touched. Den i got consoled. Den i turned encouraged. Den i was humbled. Den i became inspired. U can call me a philanthropist at heart. It juz rejoices me to read abt such inspirational literature. It sort of started the barrel of positive hope rolling down my mind n everytin turned out better after tt.

FOR OUR WORLD
By Matthew Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek

We need to stop.
Just stop.
Stop for a moment.
Before anybody
Says or does anything
That may hurt anyone else.
We need to be silent.
Just silent.
Silent for a moment.
Before we forever lose
The blessing of songs
That grow in our hearts.
We need to notice.
Just notice.
Notice for a moment.
Before the future slips away
Into ashes and dust of humility.
Stop, be silent, and notice.
In so many ways, we are the same.
Our differences are unique treasures.
We have, we are, a mosaic of gifts
To nurture, to offer, to accept.
We need to be.
Just be.
Be for a moment.
Kind and gentle, innocent and trusting,
Like children and lambs,
Never judging or vengeful
Like the judging and vengeful.
And now, let us pray,
Differently, yet together,
Before there is no earth, no life,
No chance for peace.