From My Window ... I hear the sounds of peace.

Donna Streufert,
Editor-in-Chief

Everyone recognizes the sounds of conflict-the shattering, screaming, wailing, weeping sounds of conflict are oh so familiar.

A world in conflict

Churches in conflict

Families in conflict

People in conflict

In his poem, "Christmas Bells," American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes the temptation to despair in the chaos of so much conflict.

"And in despair I bowed my head;

'There is no peace on earth,' I said;

'For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!'"

Can the sounds of peace drown out the sounds of conflict?

I hear the sounds of peace in the angels' song, joyful response to the good news that Today a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11). "Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth." (Lutheran Worship p.160)

I hear the sounds of peace in Mary's song of God's love and mercy,
His power to defeat hateful and evil intentions
and to rescue, help and nourish the humble.
Mary faced the future with hope and peace because of God, her Savior.

I hear the sounds of peace in Zechariah's song about God's mighty Savior,
long promised, to come and save us from enmity and hate
and to rescue us so we can serve Him in peace.

I hear the sounds of peace as Simeon sings how he can now die in peace
because God has kept His word to send the Savior.

The sounds of peace ring loud and clear
when Jesus says to you and to me,
Go in peace-your sins are forgiven!

Now we know for sure we are loved, cherished, forgiven.
In His Word we have heard Jesus Himself speak those words of peace
to our often anxious, conflicted hearts.

Longfellow must have heard those sounds of peace, too.
For he concludes

"Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

'God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!...'"

God lives! God acts! God empowers us by His Holy Spirit
to be women of faith who forgive and forget and live in peace
just as the Father, for Christ's sake, has forgiven, forgotten and dwells with us in peace.

Listen for the sounds of peace.