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As we have mentioned, the enemy of peace is often not hatred but fear. Fear can bring out our worst and can cause us to abandon our better nature.

In the short story, “The Mask of the Red Death,” the ominous writer, Edgar Allan Poe, tells the story of a plague that besieges a city. A rich nobleman invites all of his friends to an estate where they are locked in, shutting out the disease, and keeping them from contracting the dreaded contagion. Life in the isolated manor is lavish with abundant food and wine and entertainment.

Then one night at an evening masquerade ball, a figure appears in a red mask, clothes daubed with what appears as blood. The figure is dressed as an embodiment of the plague, the Red Death. And by the end of the evening, yes, there are those who are dead and dying. But when the figure is finally brought down, the costume falls empty to the floor. There is no person or presence within them.

Here we are reminded that often what we are afraid of, and what drives our fearful behavior, is really just a creation of our minds, our imaginations. We let ourselves be deceived. We form conclusions without evidence and then act on those assumptions.

This kind of fear is an enemy of peace. It is fear that foments division and conflict between people and between nations. And, sadly, when the damage has been done, perhaps then we realize that our fears were unfounded.

We can easily imagine this happening in a friendship. You contact a friend and the friend does not return the call or email. We think the person wants nothing to do with us. We are not important to that person. The person does not value our friendship. So we neglect the relationship. It may turn out that the message didn’t go through. Or that the person was sick and got behind and things fell through the cracks. Such a benign misunderstanding can undermine a friendship.

And this kind of thing can happen between nations and peoples. Mistaken impressions are arrived at and things deteriorate.

To pursue peace, we must invest ourselves in understanding. We must be willing to find out what is really going on. We must look into the situation in a comprehensive way. Then unnecessary conflict can be avoided.

Perhaps there is a time that you have been misunderstood. What did that feel like? Maybe that experience can help you to be more committed to full understanding to avoid such problems in the future.

Prayer: We give thanks for Jesus and his insight. He was willing to take the time to understand people, to get to know them. In this way, he cultivated compassion and peace. May we, too, even in this busy season, make the effort to pursue understanding to that we increase the peace in the world. Amen.

I heard on the news that there was a last minute editing issue with the climate accord ratified in Paris. The chief negotiator for the US caught an error. The word “shall” was used when apparently the word agreed to was “should.”

Shall? Should? What’s the difference? We shall do this. We should do this. It can lead to the same result. But should implies intention. It indicates a hoped for outcome; the best option. But because we should do something does not mean that we will do it. I mean, I should lose weight. I should clean my bathroom more often. I should give more money to the church. I should do more to help the poor. I should do more for the environment. I’m sure you have your should’s, too. We may or may not do these things. And who knows when we may do them.

But shall is a commitment. Shall means that you will do something. Shall moves us from the realm of “it’s a good idea” to “I will do it.” I shall pick you up at 5:00 means I’ll be there to get you. I shall vote for you means you will do it, not you’re thinking about it.

When it comes to Wonder-Full peace, we want to remember that real peace takes real actions. For peace to be manifested, we have to make commitments and fulfill them. Taking actions builds trust which is needed for peace. Having intentions for peace is a good start. Should is definitely heading in the right direction. But peace also requires shall. It takes making commitments and fulfilling them.

Think about a time that you expected someone to do something and it didn’t happen. How did that affect the relationship?

Prayer: The God of our religious tradition is a faithful God; a God that can be trusted. May we carry out our commitments for peace so that we, too, can be trusted and so help to make the world a more peace-filled place for all. Amen.

We have a beloved Newfoundland dog. His name is Fergus. He is ten and a half years old and weighs 136 pounds. He is black with white on the chest and one white paw. True to his breed, he is devoted and obedient.

Maybe because of his size combined with his even temperament, I don’t think I have ever seen Fergus scared. I haven’t seen him cower or hang his head in shame. He has no need to. He’s not bothered by storms or lightening. Loud noises don’t disturb him. But once in a while, something goes on that he is not keen about. I may be brushing him and he’s tired of being brushed. Or one of our other dogs comes into the room and he doesn’t want to be part of a crowd. Or our little dog, Andre, will try to lick his face, which he finds annoying.

And what does Fergus do when he is not pleased with what is going on? I have never heard him bark or snarl in anger or hostility. I have never seen him nip another dog and certainly not a person. I have not seen him growl. When Fergus does not like what is going on, he gets up and moves. He walks away. He then finds a quiet place and lays down, minding his own business.

This is a good thing to remember when we think about Wonder-Full peace. Sometimes the best thing to do is walk away. Remove yourself from the situation. There may be times in a hostile situation that constructive progress just cannot be made at that moment. So, rather than notching up the tension, stepping out of the situation, at least temporarily, may be the best option. Maybe after a breather, progress can be made in resolving the situation. There may then be a time to re-engage and move forward.

When we think about working for peace, we realize that we cannot control other people and sometimes it is hard to control ourselves. Walking away, cooling off, getting some distance and perspective may be the best way to eventually move toward reconciliation.

Is there a time when you walked away? Later, how did you feel about that? Looking back, is there a time when you wish you had disengaged from a difficult situation?

Prayer: We want to be people of courage making a constructive contribution to the world. We want to be peacemakers. We pray for discernment to know when the best course of action is to take a break and disengage. Sometimes we need to give ourselves time to get re-centered, to regain our strength of purpose, to cool our anger and fuel our compassion. We pray for the perseverance to continue seeking reconciliation where it is needed in our lives and in the world. Amen.

I recently went by a neighborhood home to see some Christmas lights that I enjoy each year. For some reason, the lights were not on at that time. You could see some of the decorations in the yard thanks to the street light. The figures and animals were visible. Some of the other displays could be seen. It was charming in a subtle way. But when the lights are on, it is a vibrant, joyful, riot of color and brightness.

I think of peace being like this. Without peace, things go on, life continues. But often life is restricted. Lessened. Drab. But with peace, life can be vibrant and compelling. There can be rampant joy and creativity. Peace is what God intends for the world so that all people can fully enjoy and take delight in the gift of life.

Think of a time that you experienced a glimpse of the vibrancy of peace.

Prayer: We are so grateful for this wonderful world. The many people and cultures form a glorious tapestry when there is peace. Help us to bring life to its fuller possibilities by increasing the peace in the world. Amen.

Recently I was sent a video about some children and what they wanted for Christmas. They were asked to write one letter to the Three Kings (the Spanish version of Santa) saying what they wanted for Christmas. The letters referred to the usual toys, video games, etc. Then the children were asked to write another letter, this one to their parents, saying what they wanted from their parents for Christmas. These letters asked for nonmaterial things like spending time together reading or playing soccer. Then the children were asked if they could only send one of the letters, which one would they send? Yes, all the children chose the letter to the parents.

Here’s the link to see more about the experiment:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/24/spanish-ikea-ad_n_6377434.html

Raising children takes lots of time, effort, and attention. This can be difficult to deliver when parents are working, working, working to provide for their children and when the demands of every day life are so draining in our complex consumerist society. Kids need parents to talk with them, play with them, learn about things together, have experiences together, share feelings, read together and talk about the stories. That all takes energy and time. And most parents probably feel they have more of a deficit of time and energy than of money.

Peace is like this. Peace takes time. Peace involves relationships, getting to know people, learning to trust others, listening and understanding. Whether the situation is between two people, two groups, or two countries, peace is often a time and energy consuming process. It requires commitment and creativity. We can see how it can appear to be easier to just sever a relationship rather than work for reconciliation and peace. We can see how it can be easier to lash out and make demands rather than go through a painstaking, difficult, tiresome, drawn out process of negotiation and compromise.

But children who have their material needs met but not their emotional and spiritual needs are less happy and have more problems. Kids that don’t get needed attention and energy and time from their parents have a harder time. Peace is like that. We may seek the quick fix, but it may not be lasting. It may not be as good for all those involved. It may not have the long term positive effects that peace can have, when the time and energy is put into seeking peace. Peace may be a more difficult path but it is also more rewarding and better for all those involved.

Can you think of a time that you invested yourself in working for peace? Think of the effort that was put into the process and the result.

Prayer: So often we want immediate results. We want to see a positive outcome right away. May we remember that peace is very precious and can take a long time to create and to maintain. May we think about our faith and the stories we have of God’s efforts to be at peace with humanity. May we summon that same kind of commitment and patience in our efforts for peace with ourselves, with one another, with creation, and with God. Amen.