Friday, April 12, 2019
There is a story about an art competition held to find the best depiction of ‘peace’. There are three finalists. The first picture is of a farm, its fences along the roadside all painted freshly white. There is a red barn and a farmhouse with friendly windows. The grass of the pasture is luscious green, with well-fed cows and sheep grazing contently.
The second picture is of a beach at dawn, the sun slowly rising, rosy hues reflected on the water; no airplanes, no boats, only seagulls lazily gliding on the air, effortless. A serene view.
The third picture is that of a cascading waterfall, a magnificent cataract splashing its waters down on the rocks below. And on the shore, a huge amusement park, a cacophony of noise, complete with busy casino, the 6 lane highway bringing thousands of people in bumper to bumper traffic, to ‘play’. Meanwhile, major expansion of the facility is taking place, with blasting, and chain saws and heavy equipment and crews everywhere. Standing near that waterfall is an old pine tree, and at the top of the tree, a branch reaches out towards the water, and in that branch, a bird’s nest, and in that nest were three blue eggs and a mother robin sitting there watchfully, in the midst of the chaos around her. The picture was entitled, “Peace,” and that canvas won the prize.
And that is our understanding of God’s peace. God’s peace offers a new perspective, a new way of looking at the world; not to run away from the confusion and the conflict all around us and inside of us. God’s call is to live in it, the chaotic situation called life, and here to strive for, to work for, to find and to share God’s peace within and God’s peace between.
Blessing: “And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7