A Message of Peace and Hope

The message of peace and hope can be found in unexpected places.

This week, 17 of my fellow countrymen have been held hostage in the Lindt cafe in Sydney, with 2 of them being killed during the final minutes of the siege. Unimaginable. Sickening. 
The gamut of emotions across the faces of those who have laid flowers at a make shift memorial outside the cafe is heart-wrenching - especially those of the family members of the deceased. An act like this tears at the heart of a community and can catalyse irrational responses. Concerns were expressed of the possibility of racial riots like those experienced in Cronulla, 2005; the first, and hopefully the last in beautiful, multicultural Australia.

Instead of this week's tragic event fuelling fear and hatred within the community, it has galvanised people of all faiths, backgrounds and heritages to come together to support each other, pray and offer the family of the victims their condolences and blessings. Truly heart-warming signs of peace, understanding and hope for the future............a reflection of the Christmas message.

THE NEW BLACK

Love is the New Black

Above all 

W E A R  L O V E-

It’s more durable than denim,

more cosy than track pants,

more appealing than tuxedos,

more revealing than Speedos,

more protective than a suit of armour,

and more classy than a suit of Armani.

W E A R  L O V E-

It’s brand-less, it’s priceless!

Fits all sizes, suits all classes,

flatters any figure, matches any moment.

W E A R  L O V E-

the couture of all virtues,

the high fashion of the highly faithful:

more beautifying than Cartier,

more fragrant than Chanel,

and more the thing than any bling.

Courtesy VG mag

W E A R  L O V E-
its more fundamental than footwear,
more clarifying than eyewear,
and more undergirding than underwear.

DON'T wear jealousy and envy-

they're out of fashion man.

DON'T wear legalism and judgement-

they're so last testament.

DON'T wear vengeance & fear-

they were hung out to dry in 33AD

W E A R  L O V E-
wear it tight,
wear it every day and every night.
Wear it. Share it.
Its more becoming than the latest hairdo,
more bedazzling than a sequined tutu.

W E A R  L O V E-

like Inuits wear gloves,

like the Peace Corps wear logos of doves-

everywhere, everyday, all the way,

what more can i say than

W E A R  L O V E-
I promise you

it'll look good on you, it always does

Poem by Cameron Semmens 
(Apologies Cameron for the addition of the photos.)
Post Script: My absence from the blog world is because I've been feeling numb since last Thursday evening when an 18 year old girl,whom I've known since she was 12, was killed in a horrific local car accident. Her funeral is this coming Friday. She was passionate about life, sensible, highly principled and energetic ....... "destined to do great things". The world has lost a special person.
Sometimes life does not make any sense at all.