The heart of the schemer is a bitter heart;
the heart of a peacemaker beats joyfully.
Proverbs 12:20
Today we were greeted by the headline, “WAR ENDS.” It is ostensibly the end of the war in Iraq. This is something to rejoice about. This is a moment to remember all of the soldiers being reunited with their families and spending the holidays out of harm’s way.
As the verse above tells us, peace is cause for joy. Or a joyful heart leads one to work for peace. Either way, joy and peace go together. And we know that is the case for those personally involved in the war in Iraq.
But what about the schemer. The bitter-hearted. This is offered as the contrast to the joyful peacemaker. Are those who contribute to the inciting of war bitter-hearted schemers? I don’t think those who made the decisions initiating the war in Iraq would think so about themselves. They might think those on the Iraqi side are, but not on the US side. Yet ancient wisdom is telling.
The verse above seems to imply two groups of people: the bitter-hearted schemers and the joyful-hearted peacemakers. I’m wondering if there is not some of both in each of us. Just as we each have the potential to be joyful peacemakers, I think we also all have the potential to be bitter schemers. I think we are all a mix, and both impulses come out in different ways depending on the circumstances.
For me, following Jesus is about trying to elicit the joyful peacemaking and trying to subdue the bitter scheming. In the way of Jesus, I see the potential for joy and peace not only for myself, but for all peoples, and for the world. That is why I choose to be a Christian. I also know that I need Christianity to help me subdue the bitter-hearted schemer that lurks just beneath the surface of my relatively cheery personality looking for any opportunity emerge and erupt.
Can you think of times when you have felt like a joyful-hearted peacemaker? Have you seen that side of others? I think of the Dalai Lama. And what about the bitter-hearted schemer? It’s probably easier to start with others. Have you seen that impulse in others? In yourself? The bitter-hearted schemer can even lead us to do harm to ourselves.
For me, the teachings of Jesus give me a way to forgive the bitter-hearted schemer in myself and others, and so invite me to be more of a peacemaker with a joyful heart. Jesus truly does bring JOY to the world!
Prayer
In these days as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, may we truly treasure the joy that peace brings. May that joy be so dear to us that we make the effort, whatever it takes, to subdue the impulses of the bitter-hearted schemer in ourselves, others, our institutions, organizations, and society. May we “repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy,” until the world rings with peace. Amen.
The theme for this Advent season at Lakewood United Church of Christ is JOY to the World. Each day during the Advent season, a reflection on a scripture passage related to JOY will be posted. We hope these daily reflections help you to have a joy-filled Advent.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 