When sending out Christmas cards, I personally like to choose greetings with a wish for peace. The story of the birth of Jesus, for me, is about being at peace – inwardly and outwardly. Christ himself, speaking with his followers, said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John 14:27-31). What is this peace that He gives, that the world does not??
Mysteriously, Jesus also said that He came not to bring peace, but to bring a sword (Matthew 10:34-36). Many suggest this means to be prepared to sacrifice to follow Him and commit to honoring His teachings. What is to be sacrificed? What teachings are to be honored? It seems we could at least agree that Christ taught we are to love our neighbors as ourselves.
In that case, we have a problem. Over 2000 years ago, how could peoples in various regions of the globe, come to know each other? How could they have learned to love each other as neighbors, when they were separated by natural physical features and their differing cultures?
Today, with the magic of electronic media, the first problem is solved. We are able to “sit in each other’s living rooms” and at least get to know a little about each other. But have we learned to honor the most basic of Christ’s teachings? Who are these neighbors? Have we come to love them?
I watched a short video not long ago on this topic. The planet, viewed from outer space, shows no man-made borders. Our “blue marble” from a distance reveals only oceans, mountains, forests, fields, deserts and rivers. It would appear there is peace. Yet drawing closer, we encounter a world suffering greatly from a multitude of ills in a turbulent age. Extremes of wealth and poverty exist. Racial and religious prejudices divide. Wars tear people apart. Inequalities and injustice diminish. To say nothing of the impact of mounting natural disasters. No matter where we look, we see a world that is wet with tears. Where is this Christ-like peace to be found? What would help bring it about?
Less than 200 years ago, Baha’u’llah, the Prophet and Founder of the Bahá’í Faith suggested that “The well-being of mankind, its peace and security, are unattainable unless and until its unity is firmly established.” What would this kind of unity look like? How might it be achieved? If it is an important key to attaining peace, then my Christmas greeting might instead be a wish for unity, and for me to make more effort along this line.
I found a comment in a book written in 1883 that says, “We’ve tried war long enough.” What if we just give peace a chance? If we don’t like it, we can always go back to war. With sincere Christmas greetings for love, peace and unity.
Kay Larson,
member of the Wrangell Bahá’í community
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