The Peace in the City

    I recently moved to a new apartment on 51st St and 9^th Ave. Everyday, I will walk on 9^th Ave back and forth for school. The walk isn’t long but sometimes it can be annoying because of the bad traffic in the Hell’s kitchen. Therefore, I decided to change a route one day and walked on 10^th Ave. 
    The walk on 10^th Ave was much nicer because there was less traffic. Furthermore, I found a little church and a church school between 9^th Ave and 10^th Ave on 51st street. If I have never taken this path I may never find this surprise. Maybe God call me here.

    The church is called Every Nation New York City Church, and it is running by an organization that is called Every Nation New York City. This organization is running by a group of Christians who believe the Bible to be the only inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God; one eternal, almighty and perfect God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and for the salvation of lost and sinful man regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential. It doesn’t only offer prayer services but also hold various events for its members, such as Sunday brunch connection that provides a venue for members to get closer to each other. Moreover, it also holds events like The Relief Bus to help out homeless people in the city in order to spread the love of Christ and to mobilize members to give out their hand to the ones that are needed. 
    However, what really drew my attention was a Holy Mary stature inside the little back yard of the church. She stood there peacefully like the world outside means nothing. When I went into the church and sat on a bench next to her, the world became quit. Even there was only a wall that divided the street and the little back yard but it really was a heaven in the city, just like an oasis in a desert. I grew up in China, a land without religion. I don’t believe in god but I somehow find peace in this little back yard.

Ever since that day, I would try to make some time to go to that peaceful wonderland. Sometimes I’m not the only one. People actually come to her and pray in front of her like she is really standing there and shining over this land.

Religion in my opinion is made for helping the people to make a more harmony world. Throughout the history, religion has been used as excuses for war and conflicts for centuries. People nowadays are so divided by different types of religions. It seems that people have forgotten the peace that lies in the doctrine of all types of religion. If there is a god, how would he view us when god sees us hurting each other under it's name?