Let there be peace on Earth

[Padraig18]

Peace. Such a simple word, originating from the Latin 'pacem', meaning tranquility and the absence of war. A simple word, and yet...

Peace does not come by force of arms, or from some external source, or from "God", if you're a believer. Peace comes from within, the result of the extinguishment of anger, and the elimination of the desire to do evil. Peace comes from our hearts.

Is it so hard to imagine a world in which men do not kill and maim others? A world in which crying children are comforted and nurtured, not raised to be yet another generation of soldiers destined to do some king or politician's bidding? A world in which couples grow old together, rather than one in which a widow buries her husband much too soon? Is it really so difficult as all that?

What need in us is filled by our anger, and hatred for our fellow man? Does he not love his mate and his children as we do our own? Does cold water taste so differently to him when he's thirsty? Does he not weep hot, salty tears at the death of a friend, the same as you or I?

Peace is a precious gift we give to ourselves, one that others are allowed to enjoy with us. We must look into our hearts and ask ourselves, why have we denied ourself this gift, and why do we continue to do so?

Let there be peace on Earth, for all mankind.

Merry Christmas, all! :)

[never cry wolf]

1. Very nice sentiment Padraig

Thank you!!

[Padraig18]

2. You're welcome!

Merry Christmas, steviet_2003! :)

[Rowdyboy]

3. From your lips

to God's ear...

Merry Christmas!

[WillyT]

4. Imagine... And Amen Padraig18 !!!

We have it within our grasp...

Peace!

[TreasonousBastard]

5. It is easy to imagine such a world...

but not so easy to find one.

Peace, true peace, is a difficult and heroic thing. So much more difficult than the alternative.

It is so much easier to find an enemy and destroy him than to find a friend and live beside him.

But, some of us take the path to peace, and while we may not reach it the journey itself is worthwhile.


From a Quaker listserve, and perhaps useful even without references to a deity:

When George Fox was asked to be a captain in Cromwell's army, he reports he told them "that I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion for all wars."

This is a testimony in the true sense - not a statement of belief but a statement about what has happened to one. Friends didn't get to nonparticipation in war primarily from a theoretical or theological conviction. They got to it by being changed from the persons they were to being people in the image of God. It's not at its root about what we do or not do, but what we are. If we truly have been transformed from within by Christ, we simply are people who can not fight with outward weapons anymore.

So don't try to understand the Quaker peace testimony. Rather seek to open yourself to being transformed by God.

[Padraig18]

6. Indeed!

"Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me..." :)