Sharing Peace
Much of our focus on preparation so far has been on the internal. Introspection is valuable for personal growth. Developing a plan to implement changes based on this introspection is key to actually making change. Yet it's easy to forget that one of the reasons for personal growth and development is to improve our interactions with the world around us.
As tonight's devotion in "Shadow & Light" highlighted, we don't live in a vacuum. The world becomes more interconnected and interdependent as time moves on. Yet the more interconnected we are, the more isolated we can become from those in closest physical proximity to us.
Tonight's devotion challenged me. The call to action was about connecting with neighbors and friends that are near rather than taking the easy out of giving money to charities. I do not feel capable of hospitality and opening my home. Part of the reason is that my home is my haven and my escape. It's also admittedly the last area I focus on when I am dealing with limited time and emotional capacity.
“Break bread - or takeout - over the table”
However, one of the calls of advent is to share with others. Last week was about sharing hope. This week is about sharing peace. We are products of our environment and shared experiences. What we sow in grievance we reap in strife. But when we make an effort to connect over a common interested or shared experience, it becomes more difficult to maintain "us vs. them".
We try to justify conflict by focusing on the evil when it's the innocent that are most affected, especially the children. Then they grow up knowing only grief, strife, and loss which carries the cycle ever forward. We must make a conscious decision to stop the cycle.
This year, I am challenging myself to get to know someone who is different from me and find common ground with them. I challenge you to do the same.
