Columns

“Our piece of peace”

My thoughts have been around peace this past week as we commemorate Anzac Day. In this time when we pause to remember all those who have sacrificed their lives and gone off to distant shores in the service of others, it is hard to think of a more selfless act. While war can be a tricky topic at the best of times, I think most of us agree it is important to honour those who have suffered and sacrificed in war for us.

All around our world every day, children, women, and men suffer the tragedies of war. It is a hopeless situation that feels so helpless – is there anything we can do?! But this week I find myself wondering if we can best honour those who have served and those who suffer by the way we live our daily lives. Maybe we can honour those whom have gone to war by trying to bring peace into our little part of the world.

In our generosity and magnanimity we make this world a better, more peaceful place. Maybe this is our part to play – to love and to serve those around us in our daily lives. As a student, teacher, daughter, son, father, mother, friend, we have countless opportunities every day to bring peace to the lives of those around us. A listening ear, an encouraging word, or a gentle touch of the shoulder can mean the world to someone and turn a bad day around. We often don’t realise the impact our smallest actions can have on others. You see, generosity and kindness are contagious. We can all think of examples when someone’s kindness to us encouraged us to be nice to someone else in return, even when we’d rather have given them a piece of our mind! When others are kind to us, our tolerance grows. And this is a gift our world could do with more of.

In a seemingly hopeless and helpless situation there is something we can do. Small things, yes, but don’t underestimate their impact. In our smallness we are great. Maybe our little acts of kindness are our opportunities to bring peace to our world. Maybe this is our piece to play in peace. Or as Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”

Amy Armstrong
Otago Chaplaincy team
www.otago.ac.nz/chaplain