The story...
It seems that people would want to be at peace with themselves and with others - some tried in the anti-war peace movement in the 1960s. Yet, people disappoint or hurt us, resources are limited, suffering occurs, our decisions have consequences, we hear of daily acts of violence, God's will is different from ours...
I decided to make a concerted effort to promote peace within my family by giving every member a "Peace Frog" t-shirt for Christmas a few years ago. The picture below is on the back of one of my two shirts that I really don't wear. I don't think that my family members wear theirs either. Actually, I just put this shirt on underneath my V-neck sweater. It feels more right inside my sweater than flashing it towards those who might see me.
I don't think that we're peaceful people by nature. Our efforts to work towards an imagined ideal are good yet I think that reality is a far better place to live. Scripture says that our reality is that God provides the way for us to have peace with Him, our Creator. When we creatures are at peace with our Holy Creator, He indwells us in the person of the Holy Spirit. Through Him, we can bear peace like an apple tree bears apples.
I 'm often surprised when I witness peace worked out within a group of people in the light of day. And, I expect that people would witness and enjoy the peace of God worked out through the people of the only church in town. I want to hang out in a place like that - "Right On!"
Just for today...
"My unexpected situation turned into a pleasure-filled gift, once I was willing to look at it differently." Hope for Today (p. 131)
"He that is in perfect peace suspects no one, but he that is discontented and disturbed is tossed about with various suspicions..." Thomas à Kempis
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