#divisivehate

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Peace on Earth

I am one of “those” people who started listening to Christmas music in early October to the horror of my musically-trained husband. Music has its specific seasons and October isn’t included in the music-listening Christmas season according to him. I disagree.

Additionally, his argument is a bit shaky since he begins prepping his band and choir for their Christmas concert around the same time I turn on the Christmas tunes at home…in October. I have a feeling we will be arguing over this one until our 50th wedding anniversary or until he retires.

However, because Christmas music has been playing for over a month in my ears, that also means the words, “Peace on earth, goodwill toward men” has been sung more than once in various carols. While I love that message, I will be the first to admit, I feel anything but peace and goodwill around me and in me these days.

There are days I truly fear my commute to and from work because of the seemingly extra angry drivers on the road. This is backed up with stories I have heard about horrible confrontations because someone was cut off, shootings on the freeway and passing by the latest car accident in a string of many accidents I have passed by lately.

This feeling is not helped by the fact that face masks still cover many faces and so expressions cannot be read. This is not advocating for or against mask-wearing. Just stating a fact. But just the fact I have to add that last statement speaks to the high emotions and heated disagreements we have all been part of and thus, all so very far from peace on earth.

Add that to the fact that many people are trying to return to normal, or act like things are normal, or try to force normal and then confronted with the fact that life just isn’t normal anymore. That only increases frustration when one realizes that yet again, Covid has gotten in the way of normal.

Many times I find myself relating to the Casting Crowns version of “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” where one line says, “And in despair I bowed my head. ‘There is no peace on earth’ I said. For hate is strong and mocks the song. Of peace on Earth goodwill to men.”

I admit, I have felt that in my soul and in the hearts of those around me so often in the last 20 months. I am discouraged by the hate, the division, the violence, the pain and the suffering. How does one find peace on earth amid all that?

And yet…

Yet when I think of when the world, humanity, first heard those words, I begin to believe peace is not so far out of reach. Peace was spoken to a bunch of outcasts, on a hillside, in the middle of nowhere, at night. On top of which, the people receiving the message were under the thumb of the harsh Roman rule. Despite all that, God, through His angles spoke peace and gave the answer via His Son.

And there it is. Peace doesn’t depend on humanity. Peace was a Gift given to humanity for the taking, accepting and then putting it back out there for others to receive. We may sometimes fumble around and mess up in our extending that Peace to others. But Peace is never absent and will always find a way to show that peace and goodwill can be our reality.

Even in our world.

If you want to hear the whole Casting Crowns song (It’s definitely worth the listen!), follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7670CXvPX0

Lyric Writers: John Mark Mark Hall, Bernie Herms, Byron Dale Oliver