In the midst of the busy seasons
of Advent and Christmas, where do we find peace? I would offer that there is
more peace in the world than history or headlines lead us to believe. The
life-giving energy that causes plants to grow, rain to fall, rivers to run, and
makes life possible comes to us quietly every day. God’s peace that “passes all
human understanding” is offered to each of us. In magnitude it dwarfs the
destructive powers of the occasional violence in the world. We should not
belittle the sufferings and causalities caused by war, storms, eruptions, and
earthquakes; still we need to put these in perspective with the number of
peaceful, quiet, productive days that most people are engaged in day by day.
Historian Will Duran summarized
human history this way: “Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is
sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shooting, and doing
the things historians usually record. While on the banks unnoticed, people
build homes, raise children, sing songs, write poetry, and even whittle statues.
The story of civilizations is what happens on the banks. Historians ignore the
banks for the river.”
Even in the midst of violence and suffering, of strife
and struggle, we can find peace, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to
you, that in me you will have peace. In the world you will have tribulation;
but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) This peace is
an inner calm that goes below and beyond the effects of our environment. It is
the peace we wish for. The more we understand God’s love for us, the more we
put our lives in line with His will, the more peace we will have in our lives.
May you be especially blessed this season with the gift of His peace!
Pastor Qualley
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