Longing for Peace

December 21 was the day chosen by my wife’s doctor and her, the day for her c-section and the birth of our third child.  It was on a Monday morning at the small hospital eight miles from our home.  You would think that by the birth of our third child, we would have had the routine down pat, but there are always some unexpected surprises.  And December always seems crazy around our house.

We got up very early on the appointed day.  We took our two young children to the family in our church who had offered to watch them.  I drove my wife to the hospital, arriving at five am.  At that time of day, the hospital seemed quiet and peaceful.  They began to prep my wife for the c-section, and I left the hospital room.  There’s not much to do in a small, rural hospital at 5:30 am.  So I started walking slowly down the hallway.  One patient room’s door was open, and the clock radio came on, playing that old, familiar carol, “Silent Night, Holy Night.”

Many years have passed since that day.  The baby born on that December day is now a young adult living in another city.  For most of those 20-plus years, I took peace for granted.  But in recent years, there doesn’t seem to be much peace in our world.  War is always going on somewhere.  Another family is falling apart, leaving the children to be carted from home to home.  Any peace seems just temporary, until another storm, another conflict, another disaster happens.  

Lately, I find myself longing for peace, for real, lasting peace.

Isaiah 9:6-7 promises, 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
         Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

If you too long for genuine lasting peace during this Advent season, turn to the One who is the Prince of Peace.  Isaiah promised that there were be no end to his peace.  There is no place else in this world to turn to, for real, lasting peace.  So turn to the only One who can bring you such peace. 

A Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong, you are great, you are the most high, you are almighty.
You, Holy Father, are King of Heaven and Earth.
You are Three and One, all good.
You are good, all supreme good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love, you are wisdom.  You are humility, you are endurance.
You are rest, you are peace.
You are joy and gladness, you are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and you suffice for us.
You are beauty, you are gentleness.
You are our protector, you are our guardian and our defender.
You are courage, you are our haven and hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are eternal life, great and wonderful Lord,
God almighty, merciful Savior.

by St. Francis of Assisi
-from Jesus, Be the Center, by Rev. Eunice McGarrahan
This is a great descriptions of God.