Peace and Justice, Our Way to Humanity
The world has turned against them, they
have no friends, they have not parents, relatives, even at times not neighbors. They are named after strange names, “most marginalized or most abandoned.” Does
it mean that human dignity, that which make human beings be who they are, does
not reside in them any longer? Reflect about it, by the way I did. Most
probably, our feelings have been provoked and are not pleasant anymore after
the reflection. The second invitation could be, let us come together and act in
the restoration of the lost dignity in our fellow beings. Those we share the
same essence which is actually actualized by our act of being.
Reach-out programs aim at the restoration
of hope, faith, and at least a sense of belonging to the society, to the
Church, Mosque, and the realization of the awareness of their dignity as human
beings which should not be taken away for any cost.
This is the passion that I have always
desired to have actualized to the whole of the human race. However, just as
Saint Paul, that whenever he tries to do good or to avoid sin, it is the
contrary that happens. On the same note, he did not give up, and my spirit or
desire rarely overflows, but it has as well never split into pieces. It is
because of this energy that whenever possible, it has been a priority to
restore this lost human dignity to those who are considered most marginalized
or abandoned. To those who are homeless, those with multiple disabilities, to
the prisoners, slum dwellers and more can be mentioned.
In fact the observation is that the
dignity has just been violated by us human beings who have not availed
ourselves of their presence, to partake in the share of their lives and at
least experience their life, in person. It is by taking part in the lives of
people that mother Teresa became who she is known of today. In fact, she did
not do extraordinary things that no one else cannot do, just the realization of
compassionate part of her and make good use of it, made her the exemplary
mother to those less privileged.
The well known emotion for those who will
change the world by building peace and justice is being Compassionate to the
human race and to the whole of creation. These people need those with passion
for humanity to be with them. It may be asked, who those people with passion
are? Actually, every human being should stand this rare position protecting
others, an example of a mother chicken that never breast feed her young ones,
but they never die from malnutrition, only her warmth is enough. When the next
question arose like what will these people be doing to change the lives of the
most marginalized?, the answer is just simple, never extraordinary, first start
with the ordinary and moreover simple or do small things to achieve greatness,
as the spirituality of Mother Teresa may be interpreted. Let us together, share
our joys, gifts, and inspirations from our life stories could be enough more
our presence. Accordingly, if this is done, slowly human dignity, hope and
vision for the future life of the marginalized will be restored.
Filbert Tarimo
