Thank you for making me a small part of your life. Your words of encouragement have been seeds of inspiration. Words of disagreement, opportunities for reflection and refinement.
Working with a broad cross-section of nationalities, cultures and people groups in a variety of countries has given me a deep appreciation of the value that each person’s contribution makes to the mosaic of life. That brings me to the heart of what I desire to share as a Christmas meditation: how can we have unity in the midst of great diversity?
In one of the old Christmas carols, the author speaks of hearing the bells ring out the message of “peace on earth, good will toward men.” He then laments the fact that there is no peace. War and strife are rampant, and peace seems like an illusion.
Let me emphatically state that I am not so naïve as to believe that I can outline a blueprint for world peace. However, there are suggestions that will help us bring peace to our own personal world.
Not long after 9/11, I was on a flight from London (LHR) to Calgary. I was in an Air Canada lounge that was dedicated to their frequent flyers. The only other person in the lounge was a man of Arabic decent. The man interrupted the silence with a question: “Aren’t you nervous being on the same flight as me?” I responded by asking, “Why should I be nervous?” He thought that his nationality was an obvious reason to be concerned. In the ensuing conversation I discovered that this man’s lineage traced back to Esau, the estranged son of Abraham. For thousands of years there has been a rift between the nations that emerged from Abraham’s son, Jacob and his estranged son, Esau. After considerable discussion on the development of the two lineages, I looked at the man and said, “Do you think the tension between the Jews and the Arab nations would be lessened if the leaders of the nation of Israel were able to acknowledge to your leaders the wrong of their age-long hostility and affirm the validity of your national status? At the same time, would your people be able to recognize the wrong of their sustained bitterness and extend forgiveness to Israel?” The man stood up and stated very strongly, “I wish this could be spoken to their leaders and ours.”
I came out of the conversation thoroughly convinced that a ceasefire is not a solution to peace. In the same way, disarmament, that is the laying down of bullets and bombs, is not an evidence of peace. Peace, whether in the microcosm of family or the macrocosm of nations requires a disarmament in the mind. Let me suggest three areas of disarmament that pave the way for peace and unity.
Disarm the battle for power — Alexander the Great cried out, “There are no more nations for me to conquer!” The husband fights for power and the woman counteracts with the desire to control. The fact is there is a king within each of us that wants to extend his rule where ever possible. The homeless person on the streets wants to live without accountability to anyone – a form of retaining power. Power needs to be disarmed and reframed with the mind of a servant – how can I make the assets of my life bring the greatest possible benefit to others?
Disarm the grip of entitlement — Freedom of information laws brought to light a letter that was written from Winston Churchill to Roosevelt. In the letter Churchill entreated Roosevelt to join the war. He noted that with the help of the US, the two nations could control the wealth of the world. The bottom line of entitlement is “You Owe Me!” “I have the right to claim your assets.” Entitlement turns relationships into utilitarian agreements and marriage into a social contract. We fight to possess what we think we deserve. We need to disarm entitlement and replace it with “What do I have to give?”
Disarm the cancer of envy — The Bolshevik revolution brought death and disenfranchisement to millions. No one had the right to possess more than another person. Envy says, ‘You do not have the right to enjoy what I cannot possess. I will expose your faults so that you do not have an honor greater than mine. I will judge your motives so as to taint your position with ambition and pride. I will paint your possessions with narcissistic pleasure in an attempt to discredit your wealth.” The jaundiced eye of envy and greed leaves us in a prison of discontent. We disarm the cancer of envy with genuine gratitude for what we have.
The bells of peace ring loudly for those who have made peace with the Prince of peace. On the cross, the Prince of Peace absorbed the puss and venom of our battle for power, the grip of entitlement and the cancer of envy.
I wish for you the gift of peace from the Prince of Peace.
