Late Thanksgiving night this year my wife, oldest son, and I took part in what has become an American tradition... or rite of passage. I can't decided which. (I say it's an American tradition or rite because I can't imagine people in other countries being so, well... obsessed... driven... odd.) We went to a well-known national Mega-Mart for their midnight "door buster" sale.
I'd call it a zoo, but I don't want to insult the animals.
In the seventy-five minutes we were in the store - most of which we spent in line - we saw people pushing other people out of the way, heard them arguing with language a bit too colorful for a family-oriented store, and we saw one of the four fist fights that took place between midnight and 1:00am.
Yes... fist fights - four of them - while Christmas shopping.
As we stood in line, and watched the combatants of the fourth fist fight being escorted from the store by several of Pierce County's Finest, I looked at the folks in line with us and, shaking my head, said "And all in the name of getting gifts to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace."
That scene has been replaying itself in my mind ever since. It bugs me. It makes me sad.
The second candle on our virtual Advent Wreath is the candle of Peace. Oh how we need it. The craziness at the Mega-Mart is just one of the many places our society's lack of peace bubbles to the surface... revealing the truth beneath the calm surface facade we've gotten so profecient at presenting.
We want peace in our lives. We know we need it. We make some pretty valiant efforts at looking peace-full. But, truth be told, for far too many of us, of our families, of our neighbors, friends, co-workers and fellow church-goers, real peace can be elusive.
Over the years I've noticed that a fairly common phrase carries a deeper reality with it. How many times have you been frustrated by someone's words or actions and heard yourself saying, "I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind!"?
(or maybe you've just heard someone else express that)
Have you noticed what happens all too often in those times? We end up giving not just a piece of our minds, but the peace of our minds. We get so wrapped up in how the other person has hurt and offended us. We rehearse not only what they did or said, but all the ways we can respond to them (many of which are less than reconciling). Whatever sense of peace we may have had gets eaten away by our own hurt, anger, and warped sense of what is right (often a self-centered definition).
This second week of Advent is about peace. Peace between people. Peace between nations. Peace between people and God. Peace within our own hearts and minds.
It is not a fairytale peace. It's a costly peace. It's a peace that requires something of us. It's a peace that can only come from God.
Romans 12:18 says,
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." (ESV)
Living in peace takes some effort on our part. Not that we make the peace. Not that it is something that rises from the wellspring of our goodness.
Living in peace requires us to live, behave, and relate as citizens of a different kingdom. Not the kingdom of me. Not even the kingdom of you. The kingdom of God. The kingdom ruled by the One called the Prince of Peace... who's coming Advent and Christmas is all about.
What happens when we live as subjects and servants of the Prince of Peace? Great things. The Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6-7...
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (ESV)
We can have that peace. It's God's gift to you and to me. It's a peace that doesn't always make sense to those who havent't experienced it ("surpasses all understanding"). It's the peace that protects us even when we're hurt, offended, and frustrated ("will guard your hearts and minds...")
Isaiah 26:3 reminds us of God's role in all this...
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." (ESV)
Peace. Real peace. Lasting peace. Peace for our hearts and minds. It can be ours...
On the Potter's Wheel.
That is an excellent reminder for this time of year Paul! Thank you. Dorothy
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