Saturday, November 5, 2011

Peace on Earth

"Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the Presence of God."

The days are getting shorter and colder, and we are heading into the holiday season. They say the holidays are tough on folks. I will admit that for a long time, I found them to be difficult. When I was younger, my mom and I would spend time with the extended family. It wasn't the Norman Rockwell scene. Things could range from general rudeness to passive-aggression. While I didn't understand what was going on, I just knew I was pretty miserable spending an entire day with people who didn't seem too nice. When I was 10, my granny passed away, and the family stopped getting together for holidays. While I didn't miss the family gathering, I could not help but feel that something was wrong. After all, everyone I knew was getting together with family. It seemed that either way, the holiday season was not what it was supposed to be.

But something happened which changed my entire view on the holidays. I stopped focusing on what the world said about the holidays and how we are supposed to spend them. I let go of all the disappointment and began focusing on what was really there.  The very first time I listened to "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" I realized this song completely captured the transformation that occurred on my view of the holidays.

From this:
"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."

To this:
"Then rang the bells more loud and deep. God is not dead, nor doth He sleep.
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, good will to men.
Then ringing singing on its way. The world revolved from night to day.
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime Of peace on earth, good will to men"



Life may not be exactly the way the general majority portrays that it "should" be.  In fact, it may not even be close. That doesn't make it any less spectacular.  On Thanksgiving morning, I will be running the Turkey Trot with 7000+ others into a great Thanksgiving day.   May you find your very own peace and joy this holiday season and every day of your life.

I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. Do not be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

1 comment:

  1. Great writing and message Cassie.
    Life is such a mess of this and that, it almost never comes together "as Planned" or "as Promised" but the ways that it does come together seem to be marvelous as well as strange and absurd all at the same time!
    I think remembering the actual reasons for the Holidays we celebrate tends to help put the focus back in the right place, rather than worrying so much about the decor, or the "right thing to say/do/attend" SOmetimes it is just best to "experience the experience you are having and relish it or move on!"

    ReplyDelete