Finding Peace in the Face of a Young Boy

I know a couple, each of whom is very accomplished. They are highly educated, and they are both experienced diplomats. They have served as advisors to our government and to the governments of several other countries. If the wars we are fighting ever come to an end and we are able to find the kind of satisfying peace that so many of us yearn for, these two, the man and the woman, will have played an important part in bringing us to that happy ending.

I also know that this man and woman had a child, a daughter, who died very young. Eventually they had another child, a boy, and this boy recently marked his fifth birthday. I have seen the couple with their son, and I have seen pictures of the boy at his fifth birthday party.

These two have much to offer the world. They are capable of things that others could not possibly do. I know they have a deep desire to contribute to peace and understanding, and they have dedicated their lives to service in an effort to bring that about. But I have also seen them with their son. I have watched the expressions on their faces and the way they attend to everything their little boy does. As important as their work is, it is obvious what matters to them. There are reports, diplomatic visits, and policy statements that must be made. But the most important thing in the lives of this man and this woman is their son.

If we ever find peace, it will be because of love. The love of adults for each other and especially the love of parents for their children. If, like this couple, more of us could extend the love we find within our families to the larger family of people beyond the borders of our homes and nations, we might just get there.

Axiom of Domestic Life

When there are no coffee cups left, it is time to do the dishes.

Relationship Advice for Men

Beware of women who, upon entering your home, begin to wipe the counters, adjust the lighting and ventilation, fiddle with the stereo, and reorganize the cupboards.

Why Good Writers Are Not Always Great Conversationalists

“Reading, study, silence, thought are a bad introduction to loquacity.” —William Hazlitt


Source: "Why Good Writes Aren't Good Talkers," a review of Arthur Krystal's collection of essays, "Except When I Write: Reflections of a Recovering Critic" by Mary Jo Murphy. Krystal used the Hazlitt quote in one of his essays.