Peace on earth by U2

Heaven on Earth, we need it now
I'm sick of all of this hanging around
Sick of sorrow, sick of the pain I'm sick of hearing again and again

That there's gonna be peace on Earth
Where I grew up there weren't many trees
Where there was we'd tear them down
And use them on our enemies

They say that what you mock
Will surely overtake you
And you become a monster
So the monster will not break you
And it's already gone too far

You say that if you go in hard
You won't get hurt Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line
Peace on Earth

Tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth

No whos or whys
No one cries like a mother cries
For peace on Earth

She never got to say goodbye
To see the colour in his eyes
Now he's in the dirt
Peace on Earth

They're reading names out over the radio
All the folks the rest of us won't get to know Sean and Julia, Gareth, Ann, and Breda
Their lives are bigger than any big idea

Jesus can you take the time
To throw a drowning man a line Peace on Earth

To tell the ones who hear no sound
Whose sons are living in the ground
Peace on Earth Jesus and the song you wrote

The words are sticking in my throat
Peace on Earth

Hear it every Christmas time
But hope and history won't rhyme
So what's it worth
This peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth

Why do people gossip?

There isn't much to be seen in a little seminary, but what you hear makes up for it. Gossip has no value except what lies in the activity itself and the achievement of external ends in hurting others. People who indulge in gossip do not ponder deeply on the content or consequences of what they say. Do these people use their brain? Most of the time, it is talk for the sake of talking. Aldous Hugley described a gossip as a “professional athlete of the tongue”.

Since the typical content of gossip is usually behind-the-scenes, intimate information, it is indeed hard to verify it. With the lack of substantiation, the element of gossip is a byproduct of the confidential nature of the information conveyed. This unsubstantiated characteristic then become more typical of rumors or slander. Moreover, gossiping and spreading rumors is essentially a derogatory connotation of hearsay and by large due to the failure to distinguish the truth.

Gossip satisfies the basic need to acquire information about the personal and intimate aspects of other people's lives although one may be ignorant about how difficult it works in others’ lives. Gossip satisfies a tribal need, namely the need to belong to and be accepted by an uncharitable group of people. The sharing of intimate and personal information and the intimate manner of conveying this information contribute to the formation of an exclusive group with intimate and emotional ties between its members. They enjoy gossiping because it revolves around information not yet widely known and therefore “intriguing”! The negative information, generally concerns people who are not there to hear it, much like criticizing people behind their backs.

Gossip and rumour express insensitivity toward other people and indifference toward their feelings. The enjoyable and interesting elements in gossiping stem not merely from acquiring novel information but also from the content of this information e.g. the sexual life of a priest makes for juicier gossip and more intense sensation than the exploits of a prostitute!!! In most cases, gossiping and slandering exaggerate or distort information. It also shows the emotional intelligence of those who loves to gossip. How sad when gossiping and slandering is part of a person’s life. Indeed, how fruitful and authentic can his life be?

Providence of God

The providence of God does not alleviate us of any responsibilities. God works through means such as integrity, hard work, obedience and faithfulness of the people. The providence of God does not relieve us of the need to make wise judgments or to be prudent. On the other hand, it does ease us of anxiety in God’s promise. “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?” (Mt. 6:30). Rather than being a cause for self-indulgence, compromise, rebellion or any other sin, the doctrine of providence is actually a sure ground for trust and a spur to faithfulness. Amen

Dealing with disappointment

Career, education, relationships, friendships, family, finances, health... there are so many area of life that we are bound to experience disappointment at some time. What exactly is the cause of this apparent universal phenomenon? Is it something in the outside world or something within us? Why do some of us seem to bounce back quickly from disappointment while others descend into resentment, anger or even depression? Most importantly, how can we use disappointment constructively to learn more about ourselves and life?

The chief cause of disappointment may well lies in having unrealistic expectations. Has optimism in some way become the flipside of expectations that reinforce inconsistency with external reality? How can we keep our desires consistent with external realities? Everyone wants good health, radiant look, pretty face, excellent grade, great relationship and strong financial security but only a handful actually has all these stuffs. It is easy to develop certain expectations based on characteristics that supposedly run in the family like being academic achievers, sports-orientated, genetic good looker and so on. Can these really instill a sense of entitlement that generates into disappointment when reality does not measure up? I believe so, because I am disappointment with failure that others simply may not dwell too much in it but I am until I bounce back into reality….. sigh…..