Let's be a Channel for Peace

2017 has been a rough year. There have been horrible weather disasters. Political tension. People being killed. Someone opened fire on innocents in Las Vegas. There are people in multiple countries being oppressed and killed every day. People in our own communities on the streets. There is violence and discord in our families, our homes. Every time we turn on the news, there's more and more pain. More judgment. More hatred. We need peace.

 And peace starts with us. It's time to stop letting our differences get in the way. It's time to stop drawing lines in the sand. We need to cross over those lines and love. After all, that's what Jesus Himself did when they were going to sentence the prostitute to death. He said, "you without sin, throw the first stone." None of us are sinless. But how often do we judge those who sin differently than us? Those we don't understand? And what is that doing to our world?

We need to stop caring what divides us. All that matters is that we are human beings and part of the human family. That all of us have dignity and worth, and all of us matter. We are all equal in the sight of Jesus Christ, and we are all important. He died for every single of us--that beggar on the side of the road, the corporate lawyer on Wall Street, the famous actress, the person living check to check, the people who are oppressed and downtrodden. God loves all of them, all of us. They are all important, and should be treated with respect and human dignity. How often do we consciously and purposively stop to think about that? To ask ourselves--are we being a channel for peace or are we causing division?

 We need to realize, understand, and accept that we can bring peace to our world, to our work places, our communities, our homes, our families. All it takes is one simple thing--kindness. You don't know what one act of random kindness can do for someone. Whether it's opening a door for someone, letting the guy cut in front of you in traffic, donating to help the poor, volunteering, smiling at the stranger, listening to our children, compromising with our partners. One act of kindness is a small stone that will create unending ripples of love, hope, and peace. 

Often, we see the worst of humanity. So let's start being the best of humanity. Be someone who makes a difference. Be kind to someone today. Love someone today. Put aside your differences and be a human being with someone today. Morgan Freeman is credited with saying "Imagine what 7 billion human beings could accomplish if we all loved and respected each other."

I say we find out.