Friday; August 18

There has been a lot of talk about peace these days … well, let me rephrase that – there has been a lot of talk about the lack of peace these days.  While our nation is not currently engaged in any significant world-wide conflicts, there is a lot of tension.  Issues in foreign nations like Iraq, North Korea and Venezuela have made us uneasy.  Even our domestic peace has been tested in places like the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota and in Charlottesville, Virginia.  If our forefathers were to analyze our nation’s current status many of them would probably say that we are “at peace”, but as we live through it, there is a lot of anxiety surrounding us. 
Peace is an interesting concept because it can be defined in so many different ways.  One generation’s definition might be the absence of a world war while a community’s take on it would be a murder-free weekend.  A family’s definition might be a brief respite from domestic violence while an individual might understand it as finally coming to terms with an emotional issue.  The 17th Century Dutch philosopher, Baruch Spinoza defined it in this way, “Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice.”. 
Depending upon where we are in our lives peace may mean different things, but one thing is for certain – left to itself our world will not produce peace on its own.  When fear, selfishness and greed battle for the top spot any peace will temporary at best.  However, there is hope.  The Bible makes it a point to identify God with peace when the Apostle Paul wrote, “Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”.  (Romans 15:33) 
Are we seeking peace?  We have access to the Source, if we are willing to make the commitment necessary to promote and pursue it.
Think about it!

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