This Week’s New Articles

Answer to the travel picture on Home Page: Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Note: We’re traveling and won’t post new articles until 9/17.

***************************************************************************************************************

I often learn history while traveling. This time, it taught me something more profound—the connections between places, people, and ideas that transcend geography.

Recently, I visited Ireland and spent time in Belfast. Its streets, murals, and monuments told the story of decades of conflict known as “The Troubles.” Our guide explained the tensions between communities, the violence that scarred Northern Ireland, and the long journey toward peace.

Amid the many stories of political leaders, paramilitary groups, and peace negotiations, two names briefly surfaced: Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan. I made a mental note but didn’t fully appreciate their significance.

A few days later, I visited the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. As I watched the videos about scientists, writers, economists, and peacemakers, I was surprised to encounter the two names again.

Then, the brief story from Belfast became more meaningful.

In 1976, Northern Ireland was divided by violence. Bombings, shootings, and sectarian conflict had become part of daily life.

One day, a heartbreaking event occurred. Three young children were killed when a car driven by an IRA member, who had been shot by British soldiers, crashed into them.

Mairead Corrigan was the slain children’s aunt. The person who witnessed the tragedy was Betty Williams.

Rather than responding with revenge, the two women chose a different path. They organized public demonstrations and peace marches, bringing together thousands of ordinary people who were exhausted by violence and wanted a better future.

Their message was simple yet powerful: peace would not come through more hatred, but through reconciliation and dialogue. In a society fractured by fear and mistrust, their courage stood out.

The movement they helped create gained international attention. Later that same year, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to promote peace and nonviolence in Northern Ireland.

Standing in the Nobel Prize Museum, I reflected on how extraordinary this achievement was.

Many Nobel laureates are remembered for groundbreaking discoveries, influential books, or major political agreements. Williams and Corrigan were ordinary citizens who responded to tragedy with moral courage. They didn’t command armies or hold high political office. Yet their voices inspired thousands and demonstrated that everyone can influence the course of history.

In Belfast, I learned about conflict. In Stockholm, I learned about the recognition of those who sought to end it. The two cities, separated by more than a thousand kilometers, became linked through the story of two women who believed peace was possible even when circumstances suggested otherwise.

***************************************************************************************************************

In Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, he speaks of a person’s character as the “fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Some might assume that since there are nine descriptions, there must be nine different fruits. However, the original text uses the singular form “fruit,” describing a unified set of characteristics. This collective character is the outcome of the Holy Spirit’s work—traits manifested through the Spirit’s guidance. In other words, these nine aspects reveal a spiritual person—someone who submits to the Holy Spirit’s leading and truly acknowledges Jesus as Lord.

The latter part of that same verse states, “Against such things there is no law.” Generally, most laws and regulations are prohibitive in nature—dictating what one cannot, must not, or is not permitted to do—with penalties for violations. To say there is no law against these qualities means that such virtues should be cultivated and acted upon in any time or place. Naturally, the law would not interfere with them. In reality, the law also contains positive directives. For instance, when an emergency vehicle—such as an ambulance, fire truck, or police car—approaches with lights flashing and sirens blaring, ordinary vehicles are expected to pull over and yield the right of way. Yet, online videos show that in some parts of the world, many drivers ignore this. They argue that traffic congestion is the result of poor government management and is therefore someone else’s responsibility.

In some countries, anything is permitted unless the law explicitly forbids it. In other regions, nothing is allowed unless the law expressly authorizes it. Then there are societies where the existence of laws makes no practical difference at all.

A few years ago, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we happened to move to South Dakota. It was one of the few states in the US where the government did not mandate stay-at-home orders or force the closure of shops and restaurants. While this was partly due to the state’s sparse and dispersed population, the primary reason was the government’s respect for individual choice—a belief that responsible adults could make sensible decisions for their own safety and that of others. This example illustrates that not every aspect of human character and conduct requires a law to dictate how one should behave. As human beings, we ought to possess a sense of self-respect and live with dignity.

The Bible views human nature as inherently selfish, self-indulgent, and averse to restraint. The ugly side of human nature is apparent in the wars and conflicts that have marked human history. Amidst the chaos of war—particularly when on foreign soil—people may cast aside all inhibitions, acting solely on their desires and stopping at nothing.

In the natural world, humans alone possess the capacity for thought, creativity, and moral judgment. Many value freedom and human rights, while also recognizing that living together in society requires laws to ensure fairness and personal safety. The core question is who establishes these laws. The values and worldview emphasized in the Bible—including the cultivation of personal character—are grounded in God’s ordinances. Good character cannot be divorced from God’s guidance. Otherwise, it becomes merely a matter of personal self-cultivation rather than the fruit of the Holy Spirit.