Peace On Earth

I was listening to one of my favorite podcasts today just for a few minutes. It’s by Ravi Zacharias, a Christian apologist who travels around the world and speaks at open forums in universities, to influential politicians and business people, and at churches. I only listened for a couple of minutes (it was to & from Cadie’s swim lesson), but he asked the question, “What would someone look like if they were at total peace?” He proceeded to tell a story of a friend of his that he traveled with once. The airlines lost their luggage after a very short flight, and Ravi’s suitcase was full of reference books that he needed for his next speaking engagement (not to mention all of his clothes were gone). Anyway, he and his friend went to the airlines counter to discuss the missing luggage. The person at the counter said that they would call them once their luggage had arrived. The airline worker also promised that they would even deliver the luggage to them, wherever they were in the city. The friend said “Thank you” very graciously several times during the conversation to the person at the counter. Ravi was furious with the airlines for having lost his belongings, and at first couldn’t believe that his friend was thanking them. But then Ravi realized the true measure of his friend’s heart, that his friend would never “pass up the privilege of extending courtesy” to another human being. 

Many times peace is thought of as something found up on a beautiful mountain, or lying on the shores next to the ocean. Or maybe we think peace is having a day at the spa or on the golf course? Perhaps it’s simply a house filled with lit candles and soft music? I definitely feel more peaceful when I’m getting a massage, that’s for sure. And I do think that these environments do provide some amount of peace and calm. (Rest is important!) But I like the question that Ravi poses - What would someone look like if they were totally at peace? I think he’s is onto something. True peace really shines in the nitty-gritty of daily living. Right in the middle of the crappiest day, month, year (decade?) peace can show itself best. But it all depends on if I choose it.

You know the story. Crazy-amazing angles visit shepherds to announce Christ’s birth. The Bible says that they were terrified. And what do the “heavenly hosts” say? Peace on earth, good will toward men. Now, you would think that seeing a beautiful-awesome angel would bring peace, but instead the shepherds were totally freaked. I probably would have been freaked too. Life, interrupted by an unexplainable encounter. Would their lives ever have peace again? The angles said they could.

I guess I’m reflecting on this tonight because things are not perfect in life, or in my life to be more specific. But tonight I was holding Cadie as she was sleeping, and man was she at total peace. I loved it. And I hope that I can be like her. Totally at peace knowing that God has got me in His arms. These are crazy times we live in. Crazy-bad economy… war… money-hungry CEOs… death… confusion… The list goes on & on. But my prayer tonight is that we get closer to peace on earth. And perhaps the answer lies in the “goodwill toward men” part? Christ sure showed us all about that. Living at peace with others? OK, I’ll save those reflections for another post.

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