Powerful Peacemakers

My first experience with fighting was during elementary school.

Walking home from school one afternoon, I found myself in an awkward situation when one classmate pushed me to the ground and another student jumped on top of me and began to punch me in the stomach. I was in the fourth grade and all of a sudden was being beat up for no apparent reason. I broke free and began to run home. The first thought I had as a young boy was I should learn how to fight better. Then reality hit me: Nope, I don’t like the sight of blood.

With all the traveling I do on airplanes, I often wondered if I should learn hand-to-hand combat to protect myself on a flight in case violence broke out. I have a close friend who owns his own private security business. We met at a fight training gym in downtown Orlando, where I showed up for my first class. Jeff began to tell me how you can hide, fight, or flee the situation. Then, he told me how even the best trained fighters choose to flee. “No one leaves happy after a fight,” he said. I never went back for another class on hand-to-hand combat.

We can look at our world and realize there is more than hand-to-hand combat going on. Nations are fighting nations. Neighbors are fighting neighbors. Plus, we could honestly observe another level of violence…verbal combat. People post, tweet, and blog even about people they have never met. It’s almost like social media has become a grand collision of gossip and opinion. Comedian Tim Hawkins says it best: “Gossip to God.” My prayer is: Dear Lord, may my words be helpful and not hurtful. The power of our tongue can destroy or build up those around us. “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Proverbs 12:18

How can we become powerful peacemakers and influence the climate around us? Just like a thermostat we can turn up the heat around us or cool off the issues. However, the key idea is what can we do to influence the temperature of the environment we are in? It comes down to what we add with our words and actions. I can protest what I’m against or I can promote what I am for.

In John 14:27 Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” We start spreading peace when we live with love and integrity. Life can be filled with war or peace. Proverbs 6:16-19 makes it very clear: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

I believe we can be powerful peacemakers. We are where we are for a reason—a powerful reason! May we bring peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:19 ~Tim DeTellis