Exploring PEACE ON EARTH
 |
Peace on earth and goodwill to all
men. What a New Year’s resolution! Of course, this is no new wish. Peace has been a goal for a long time. It’s even
formalized by the United Nations in its Declaration of Human Rights. Nations
have committed themselves to working toward this goal. To appreciate the
enormity of this undertaking one merely needs to look at the three factors that
the UN has identified as being necessary for a person’s peace––freedom from famine,
disease and violence. News reports of war, refugees, famines, racial
strife, and the homeless, robberies and murders on our streets suggest we have
a long ways to go. Over the last century on a national or communal basis progress
is evident, but it is slow, oh so slow. Some people are lead to abandon the
goal of communal welfare. Instead they struggle for individual security through
gaining power or wealth. Their success leads many to enhance their lives by
seeking personal pleasures. What happens to people who fail to achieve personal
safety or who find leisure activities unfulfilling?
 |
Since the paraphrased proclamation, peace on earth to all men, comes from an angel who appeared before
shepherds in the field to announce the birth of Jesus, one might consider looking to God for peace. Luke 2 verse
14 reads: Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.
Not for me. Stories
of God and what the Bible says God did are interesting cultural remnants of the
past, even long past some might say. They are as believable as achieving peace
on earth for all men. Their more generous position may be god created the earth. Fine. That’s in the past. His job’s done. Now he’s got nothing to do with me.
The idea that God is an impersonal being with no relevance to
an individual’s life is the position of Jill, the protagonist, in my novel, Baggage
burdens. Under the right conditions she has no trouble participating
in church activities or believing some of the Bible’s moral teachings, but
that’s as far as it goes.
Touching Daniel’s
shoulder Mary says, “You guys did a marvelous job.” She beams waving the
program featuring the church’s Christmas play. “Actually all the kids did a
marvelous job. No one needed a prompting.”
“And they all spoke so
well,” adds Ann.
“Thank Mom for that,”
says Amber. “She coached us. She coached all of us.”
“So I gather,”
responds Ann. “If I heard right from some of the ladies at the church,” Ann
looks at Jill. “You made many of the sets too.”
“Oh, I had help with
that,” clarifies Jill. “Joseph built some. And Rebecca and Gerda worked on
some.”
“From what I heard,”
adds Mary; “the women in church were very impressed with your role in the
production. They tried a play several years ago, and it was a flop. They credit
you with this year’s success.”
“”Will you Mom?” Amber
looks up expectantly.
“Will I what?” asks
Jill becoming aware that she had tuned everyone out. “I’m sorry. I was
distracted by something.”
“Will you help with a
Christmas play next year? That’s what my Sunday school teacher was
wondering about.”
“If I can,” answers
Jill.
On the drive home Jill
couldn’t help highlighting the evening’s visit. “The Sunday school teachers
accepted my suggestion for their Thanksgiving theme—overflowing bounty in the
Lord. Their supporting ideas burst out like water through a hole in a dam.”
The following week
before Joseph says grace at supper Jill relates Ann’s latest news. People in
the United Church are excited about the amount of food that is piling up. They
asked Ann to thank Jill for her idea of giving the collection to the Food Bank.
If troubled Jill
were to respond to the question,
Why don’t you want heaven’s help,
expect her answer
to be
haiku capsule:
peace, accepted goal
a discouraging success
need heavenly help?
Next blog: Peace continued––
Where was God when I needed him?
No comments:
Post a Comment