World with no peace, no joy?

Both niece and nephew were here for a visit. First time for them to visit the new home since I moved here a year ago. This sure is some fun. At least it adds to the christmas cheer.

Had lunch out at IMM and took a short look around. Very busy, I guess lots of last minute shopping since tomorrow is Christmas eve already. Well, another Christmas tree, also a real tree, with paper hangings? Oh, these are shopper's wishes....... Osim massage chair, the cost? $10,000... Sony gallery - $3,499... Best Denki, HP Notebook computer, .... the list goes on. Such a great contrast.... we are such a blessed nation. We knew not what poverty, cold and hunger is.

I can't help but ask the question, what would be my Christmas wish? $45 a month for a child?

Today's papers - World with no Peace? World with no Joy? How sad..... it listed:

• 3.6 million people killed in was since 1990 - STRIFE
• 1.1 billion people living on less than $1.50 a day - POVERTY
• 91 million people affected by natural disasters in the first 8 months of 2006 - DISASTER
• 8.4 million children working as forced labourers or sex workers - CHILD VICTIMS
• 39.5 million people infected by HIV - DISEASE
• 1 billion women who have been beaten, coerced into sex or abused - BATTERED WOMEN

Interviews with the prominent leaders of various faiths - Catholic priest, Buddhist nun, Muslim Imam, Toaist priest, Jewish Rabbi, Hindu priest,.... their take on how to achieve world peace and joy... individually reach out, bring it forward; tolerance, non-self, equality, compassion; know God, be close to God; look within for the hope; shine what you can, make a difference; devotion, meditation and prayers..... but, really, will there be real peace and joy for the world?

Shalom..........