Missing in Action

Recently I find that the news is mostly bad, and even horrific at times. The voices we hear from our own circles, online writers, celebrities, and politicians seem to be filled with anger. We even occasionally hear people say they want to leave our country and live somewhere else because they don’t like the president or our policies. These comments remind me, how often when things rough, people give up and stop communicating. This happens even within our own families. They go MIA: adult kids stop talking to parents, spouses go off into their own corners — eventually divorcing. 

In our personal lives, making peace is not easy — whether it is with a difficult neighbor,

a rancorous HOA, or an unfair boss. Jesus teaches us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). There are steps we can take to become

peacemakers. Though we can’t change the world, we can begin with our small corner of the

world. “Fear God and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone”

(Ecclesiastes 12:13). We are called to “love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, and soul.”

And the second commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (see Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus goes beyond this challenge and even tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (see Matthew 5:44)! Leaving is quitting (obviously abuse is another matter, this is brave), and if we are willing to work on our lives, creating harmony in our own sphere, then we will be practicing the very thing we want to see on the global level. Ask the Lord with whom He wants you to be a peacemaker. This requires a humble and surrendered posture. As we in the church step into this posture, our world will see the love of Christ and people will be drawn to the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

-Written by Shira Pacult and Sue Corl