Christmas Tale of Two Worlds

This holiday season, as it is every year, is a tale of two worlds. I daily hear the beautiful carols and melodies ringing with precious words of life, hope, love and charity. Songs of a utopian life we sometimes think we live in. They almost make me cry sometimes. Not because they are such moving tunes, but because they lie in stark contrast to the harshness of the commercialism and materialism of this precious holiday and the terrible meanness of deliberate activities that take such precious life and moments away from people.

I am sitting here in my office chair, hearing gorgeous voices singing, peace on earth, good will to all, yet seeing the effects of war, torture and violence around the world. It is dismal and almost sickening to sing those holiday songs, knowing that what we are singing about is not passed along to the rest of the world.

A similar tale rang almost two thousand years ago. A beautiful, precious child was born into our terrible world, just as all of us come into this world. But this was no ordinary child. This was Jesus, God's own Son, our Savior. A precious and sacred child came into the world, and showed us how to live in peace. We killed him in violence. And, Jesus overcame death, and returned to His father so that we, too, can overcome the violence and death that shadow our existence on earth. And through Jesus, we can find Peace. Precious peace, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Jesus is a great equalizer. Oh, make straight what once was crooked. Make the rougher places plain. Make our hearts, minds, and souls a resting place, a quieting spot from the worldly battles that bombard our senses. Help us smile, and do all we can to bring Your peace to all we meet, and, in a small way, conquer the violence in the world.