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Fr. Shay Cullen | Overcoming hopeless situations

PUBLISHED ON November 2, 2007 AT 10:51 AM

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By Fr. Shay Cullen

The following was delivered at Bath University this October as my contribution to the Meriol Trevor annual lectures to commemorate her life and writings.

Before the age of printing mass literacy, radio and television that was story telling. The oral traditions of all cultures have honoured the story tellers who passed on the wisdom, history, moral codes and much more from one generation to another. Above all the value of life and survival were passed on to children by stories and many of us will remember the bed time stories of our childhood as happy memories of caring parents and older brothers or sisters, aunties and uncles. In today’s world there is hardly time for this anymore and the power of imagination in young people is weakened, the values of life are diminished and the love of reading among young people has all but vanished.

Meriol Trevor, knew the inestimable value of a well written and well read story, not only that she wrote to inspire hope and optimism in children, to inspire and imbue them with confidence that the trials and tribulations, the fears and uncertainties of life can and would be overcome.

That in dangerous and uncertain situations, sadness and loss there is positive and powerful experience there too that gives us strength and insight. In the seemingly pain of powerlessness strength can be found, in times of apparent defeat, a victory can be won, in pain and suffering, we can find endurance and steadfastness. When things seem hopeless, there is still a chance for optimism and the seemingly impossible can be made possible by sheer faith that we can with determination and commitment to truth, honesty, justice and the love of each other we can overcome evil, corruption and the exploitation that is so rampant in our world, today more than ever before it seems. Beauty can be found in the dying and decaying leave of Autumn, their passing is not a dark and pointless death but in the brilliance of their colourful departure they renew and nourish the soil from which the seeds spring bring renewed life to farm and forest - Life comes from death.

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THE NEWS IN PICTURES

Displaced. Residents of North Cotabato have been the ones badly affected by the military offensives launched against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. "As the government continues to indiscriminately drop bombs on Moro and Christian villages in Aleosan and Pikit, more and more civilians are displaced," said Kawagib, a Moro human-rights group.(Photo: Suara Bangsamoro/arkibongbayan.org)

In One Roof. Villagers who fled their homes after the clashes last week between government troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in the south brought every human life with them, including their farm animals. They now live under one roof at an evacuation center in Pikit, North Cotabato. (Photo: Bong Sarmiento / Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project)

Emergency. A scene from "Ambulancia," a short film that tells of a painful twist in an ambulance driver's belief that a dying patient can be saved by running over stray animals on the streets. The award-winning film will be screened at the so-called "Woodstock of short films" in Germany. Richard Legaspi directed the film and it stars Alan Paule and Nor Domingo. (Contributed photo)

Sendoff. The Philippine Army dispatched today, Aug. 10, the 68th Infantry Battalion to Maguindanao. This battalion, together with the 46th Infantry Battalion from Samar, will augment the troops in Central Mindanao for the security operations that will be conducted to ensure peaceful elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao tomorrow. (Photo: Philippine Army)

Killings Denounced. Mindanao journalists gathered in General Santos City on Friday to denounce the recent attacks on their colleagues. On Monday, Dennis Cuesta, a Radio Mindanao Network commentator in General Santos, was shot and is fighting for his life. On Thursday, another RMN broadcaster, Martin Roxas of Capiz City, was shot dead. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

If This Wall Could Talk. With the pleasant scenery as a backdrop (and a constant reminder, perhaps, of a life they could have had), this poor family try to survive by actually living by the sidewalk outside the Chinese school in Davao City. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Undaunted. Activists from Anakbayan scuffle with the police as the Chevrolet Suburban carrying President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo passes by the junction before the newly built Bankerohan bridge in Davao City last week. The president was in the city for the declaration of the merger of Lakas-CMD and Kampi parties. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan/davaotoday.com)

Freedom Denied. Lex Adonis, a former broadcaster of Bombo Radyo in Davao City, inside the Davao Penal Colony, where he was jailed after House Speaker Prospero Nograles sued him for libel over a story involving the Davao congressman's alleged sexual relations with a woman other than his wife. Despite a court order, Adonis remains in jail. (File photo by davaotoday.com)

Tribute to Ka Bel. Activists, artists, friends and supporters troop to the Philippine Independent Church on Taft Avenue Monday night to honor AnakPawis Rep. Crispin Beltran, who died last week. Beltran will be buried in Bulacan today, after a ceremony honoring him at the House of Representatives, where he served for several terms as party-list congressman. (Photo by Ayi Muallam/pinoypress.net)

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Ka Bel's Fight. An activist mourns the death of AnakPawis Rep. Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, who died Tuesday. Ka Bel's remains lie in state at the IFI Cathedral in Manila. His colleagues, family and friends have lined up a series of tributes. Click here for the schedules, as well as statements and poems honoring Ka Bel. (Photo by courtesy of arkibongbayan)

Displaced. Lumad families from Compostela and Monkayo towns, in Compostela Valley Province, seek refuge in Davao City after being displaced by intense counter-insurgency operations by the military in their communities this month. The 210 evacuees, of which 83 are children, are now staying inside a gym. The number of evacuees is expected to rise, according to NGOs. (Photo by Barry Ohaylan)

Mangled and Mutilated. Rey Cayago, an activist who previously worked for the migrant group Migrante, has been found dead, his head cut off, his face and body mangled. Family and friends denounced the military for the atrocity; the armed forces had alleged that Cayago was a communist guerrilla who was killed in a firefight in the Cordilleras. But human-rights groups contend that even if Cayago were a rebel, what happened to him was "inexcusable" and a "blatant violation of the protocols of war." Click here for the story. (Photo courtesy of Bulatlat)

Fr. Shay Cullen | Overcoming hopeless situations

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