Peace

Peace

Peace in the Storm
A story is told by William Gilbert of how Dante, wandering one day over the mountains of Lunigiana, eventually drew near to a lone, secluded monastery. It was at a time when his mind was wracked with internal conflict and was seeking refuge from the strife. So he loudly knocked at the monastery gate. It was opened by a monk, who in a single glance at the sad, pale face, read its pathetic message of misery and sorrow. "What do you seek here?" said he. With a gesture of despair, the poet replied, "Peace." It was the same old craving followed by the same old search. But neither the solitary places, nor the anchorite's cell ever brought true peace to the afflicted heart. Peace comes not from without but from within. We can have it in the winter of age or the spring of youth; in the lowly cottage or the stately mansion; in distressing pain or in buoyant health. The secret of it is in comradeship with Christ. You can have peace in the midst of the storm, if you have Christ. He is the shelter from the tempest, the soul's haven of rest. If we have learned to value His friendship, we have mastered the secret of the "peace which passeth all understanding."

Patience Pays
"My dear boy," said a father, "take a word of advice from an old man who loves peace. An insult is like mud; it will brush off much better when it is dry. Wait a little till you both are cool; then the broken relationship will be easily mended. If you go now, it will be only to quarrel." That is good advice for you and for me-patience will induce peace.

It Takes Two to Quarrel
I don't know if you are old enough to remember the organ grinder who used to go around in the streets with a little monkey to collect pennies. One such entertainer had an especially clever monkey. On one occasion, when a big dog broke away from some children with whom it had been playing and made a dash for the monkey, the bystanders were surprised to see that the monkey did not seem in the least afraid. He stood perfectly still in evident curiosity, waiting for the dog to come up to him. This disconcerted the dog, for it would have much preferred to chase something that would run and not stand its ground. As soon as the dog reached the monkey, the funny little scarlet-coated creature courteously doffed its cap. Instantly there was a laugh from the audience. The dog was nonplused. Its head drooped and its tail dropped between its legs. It looked like a whipped cur and not at all like the fine dog it really was. It turned and ran back home, and the laughing children could not persuade it to return. As for the monkey, he wanted no disagreement, and he knew instinctively that it took two to make a quarrel. You can often avoid strife by being the one who refuses to fight with a brother in Christ, even if he is somewhat different from you or belongs to another group.

Divine Peace
Oilcloth and linoleum may both look bright and shiny, but under the stress of daily wear the cheap oilcloth soon wears out, while the inlaid linoleum gives good service for many years. The stresses of life soon show up the shoddy material of which human peace is made, but stress only brings out more brilliantly the divine peace that Christ brings to the heart.

How to Live in Harmony
Christ's basic law for harmonious co-existence with others is found in Luke 6:31: "As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise." Matthew states it this way: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Matthew 7:12). It is said that the Roman Emperor Severus was so enchanted by this law when he heard it for the first time that he appointed a reader to repeat it aloud every time someone came before him for judgment. He also ordered it to be written in large letters in the most frequented rooms of the palace and in many public buildings. Though an idolater, the Emperor honored Christ as the One who had told them how to live justly, and he was even disposed to include Christ among the gods.

True Peace
Two painters were asked to paint a picture illustrating peace. The first painted a beautiful evening scene in the foreground of which was a lake, its surface absolutely calm and unruffled. Trees surrounded it, meadows stretched away to the distant cattle gently browsing; a little cottage, the setting sun-all spoke of perfect rest. The second painter drew a wild, stormy scene. Heavy black clouds hung overhead; in the center of the picture an immense waterfall poured forth huge volumes of water covered with foam. One could almost hear its unceasing roar, yet perhaps the first thing to strike the eye was a small bird, perched in a cleft of a huge rock, absolutely sheltered from all danger, pouring forth its sweet notes of joy. It is the second painter who could describe the peace that passeth all understanding which is the Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God in the heart of the redeemed. One can only have peace with himself if he has peace with God.

Shut the Door and Pray
A missionary in West Africa visited a sick church member. Since the sick man's wife was also present, he asked them several questions, one being, if they lived in peace together. The man answered, "Sometimes I say a word my wife doesn't like, or my wife talks or does what I don't like; but when we start to quarrel, we shake hands, shut the door, and go to prayer. So peace is restored again." This is a very good formula for us to follow, since we are surely apt to do or say something that others in our Christian community don't like, or others are apt to say or do something that we do not like.