Peace

"The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them (Isaiah 11:6).

We spent a part of Thanksgiving Day with my brother-in-law and
his daugher and family. My niece and her husband were sort of overseers in their own kitchen while their sons and their wives did most of the work. It was a wonderful meal and the fellowship with relatives was good.

What impressed me again with 17 persons present was that I never heard arguing, shouting, bossing, nagging, or any other such thing. It was a peaceful family gathering. While there was noise at times with that many people close together, it was a "peaceful noise." It illustrated to me again that peace almost always comes in contrast to the noise and clutter around us.

Peace is what Jesus came to bring to this world. Remember what the angels said in announcing the birth of Jesus, "Peace on earth, goodwill to men." Jesus was heralded as the "Prince of Peace." Just before His crucifixion he rode on a donkey, not on big white horse. He came to bring peace to the hearts of those who would commit their lives to Him. All of that in a world that was filled with violence and unrest.

If we had a theme in our home it would center around the Peaceable Kingdom. We have a wall hanging made by Clara, a masterpiece of sewing art, a picture on the wall of a lion and lamb, as well as a small casting of the same on our entertainment center. We want our home to be one where peace is not only talked about but practiced every day.

As the season of Advent begins, my prayer is for peace among us, within us, and peace among the peoples of this world. A special concern for me is for peace in our churches and among those who, in name at least, follow Jesus. We find ourselves separated by walls of political idealogies, racial biases, differences of opinion about people of different religions, etc., etc. The words of a song sum up my prayer: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."

Seeking to live as a member of the Peaceable Kingdom, I remain

Pilgrim on the way