It is by virtue that the perfect combination of people and the ideals they embody, radiates unequivocally to spread the positivity rooted within them. In a routine meeting that never felt repetitive, sparks of brightness emanated vibrantly; giving a sense of gentle hope, along with the peaceful harmony that has been carefully nurtured by the many people who continually gather at Universal Peace Federation’s (UPF) monthly meeting in Parnell Peace Embassy. The meeting on the 11th of April 2015 highlights not only the welcoming and awarding of our new Ambassadors For Peace (AFP), but also a vivid presentation by Mr Durga Reddy who recently returned from the International Leadership Conference in South Korea and a lively performance by FFWPU-NZ Children’s Choir.
Mr Morrin Cooper, AFP and former Mayor of Howick, was the MC for the cordial evening. To start the event, he invited Rev Dianne Winder to open the proceeding with an interfaith prayer that encapsulates the well-wishes for harmony amongst everyone present. The event then transitioned to the award presentation for our new Ambassadors For Peace that never fails to inspire, led by UPF-NZ Secretary General, Mr Geoffrey Fyers and presented by Rev Julius Gicole and his wife, Jasmin Gicole. We’re grateful for the inclusion of people with similar passion, who have exhibited extraordinary dedications to their community; and we hope that the cooperation between us will grow stronger with the new vitality infused within.
The next segment of the evening was piloted by Mr Durga Reddy, as he took our attention to the time he spent recently in the International Leadership Conference, in South Korea. As a devoted, long-time contributor for UPF-NZ, Mr Reddy had the precious opportunity to be there with his wife, and the presentation of his time there exemplified the quality of his experience. As he graciously showed his appreciation and thanks, everyone present was able to feel an empowering vigour that flowed passionately from the bottom of his heart. We are grateful for his testimony, and we hope that this ray of positivity will multiply abundantly every single one of us.
In a small effort to represent the ideals of peace that UPF embodies, Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) Children’s Choir prepared a meaningful song on global peace and harmony based on the foundation of family, “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” led by Mr Andrew Halim. Although the amount of time they had to prepare was minimal, it was nonetheless an appropriate presentation that echoes and magnifies the beauty of living peacefully as One Family Under God.
The finale of the evening’s proceedings is a presentation of UPF’s Principles of Peace that was delivered by UPF-NZ Director, Rev Julius Gicole. He fervently expressed the fundamental principles of life and relationships that are often neglected or overwhelmed by the various factors that occupy our lives. He explained that in life, there is a certain order of duality, in the form of internal and external, or subject and object that gives rise to an indispensable structure that maintains goodness, which would cause chaos or conflict if it isn’t properly maintained or disrupted. He gave various examples starting from relationship within a family all the way to the various external forms of societies; such as economics, politics, and environment issues that stem right from the very same principle. He believes that UPF’s Principle of Peace offers stability, restoration and hope; and is hopeful that those who were present could gain something from it that evening. We look forward to the continuation of his presentation, and we are truly fortunate indeed; to be able to share the core values within each and every one of us that will hopefully give rise to the multiplication of goodness in other people’s lives.
An ideal may sometimes be too ideal for the world we live in. However, there is no doubt that when it is properly manifested in the right direction, an abundance of hope and blissful joy can be generated endlessly, starting from within the person and flourish seamlessly to the family and community he or she is surrounded with. We hope that through our meeting with one another, we are able to synergize the ideals that we’ve been entrusted with, in order to establish a true realm of happiness that is never-ending.
– Photos courtesy of Barry Noel; Written by Andrew Halim