Anointed Simon

  When I was young, I thought the world was small—just my home, my school, and the friends who looked and spoke like me. I believed that what I knew was all there was to know. Everyone around me shared similar foods, songs, and traditions. It felt comfortable and familiar. But comfort can sometimes hide the beauty that lies beyond it. I did not yet understand how wide and colorful the world truly was. I had not learned that difference is not something to fear. I had not yet discovered the power of diversity and inclusion. One day, a new student joined my class. Her name was Amina, and she had moved from another region. Her accent sounded different from ours, and she wore clothes that reflected her culture. At first, I noticed how some classmates whispered and stared. I also felt unsure of how to approach her. Instead of seeing her as a friend, I saw her as “different.” That small word carried a quiet wall between us. I did not realize that walls are built from misunderstanding. And...

There was once a young man who valued connection deeply yet understood not the discipline required to preserve it. He believed that sincerity of feeling was enough to sustain friendship, that strong emotion could compensate for weak patience, and that good intentions could repair careless words. In his heart, he desired to be loyal, present, and protective. Yet he had not yet learned that friendship is not sustained by desire alone—it is sustained by gentleness, restraint, humility, and wisdom. He mistook intensity for depth and closeness for maturity. And so, without realizing it, he carried within himself the very seeds that would strain what he hoped to protect. He met a woman whose spirit carried both strength and quiet grace. She was thoughtful in her speech, measured in her decisions, and purposeful in her pursuits. She possessed a calm resilience that did not demand attention yet commanded respect. In her presence, he found inspiration. In her conversations, he found clarity. In...