As we remember this week, the 25TH anniversary of an event that disturbed our peace. 9/11 was not a one-time event, it changed the world we live in forever. Each day we deal with the lasting effects of that day. We have grown complacent, and in the quest for peace we forget. Where does lasting peace come from? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I wonder if we have taken the time to see the challenges others are facing in life? Many times, we get so wrapped up in our lives that we don’t. We try to secure our peace without concern for what that does to others around us. Disturbing other’s peace is not a way to live, but we do. Pray that God doesn’t give us what we deserve.
What goes around comes around. Life is a circle and sooner or later things have a way of balancing out. What would you think if I challenged you to break that chain? What would you think if I challenged you to forgive and make peace with those who offend you? What would you think if we decided to build things up instead of tearing them down?
We did for a while after 9/11; we reached out to our neighbors, stopped thinking only of ourselves, and made efforts to think of others ahead of ourselves. America was a better place after 9/11; we were a more considerate nation. We bonded together and unified to encourage, help and lift one another up. We have forgotten.
We have become divided people. We were moving in the right direction, but we let individualism and selfishness creep back in and rob us of our peace. We had an opportunity to take this nation in a different direction, but the reality is we are more divided than ever.
Let’s face facts, we are better at pulling things apart than putting them back together. We feel more comfortable getting even than we do forgiving and forgetting. Our desire is to set things straight as we see them instead of letting God take care of the consequences for us.
There I was, standing in the infield, the race had just finished, I asked one of the drivers; let’s call him Joe, about the problem he had late in the race and his words rang in my ears. “I’m not going to forget that he ran me up and cut my tire down. I don’t know when I’ll see him again or have the opportunity, but I won’t forget, I’ll get even.”
An hour later I spoke with another driver, a friend of the first. I asked him what he was up to and he shared, “I have to go talk to Joe, he’s on the edge and I need to talk him down.” Knowing the two are friends and had come up through the ranks together I knew that was a good thing. I was hoping he could help Joe get past his disappointment and not let his desire to get even eat him up inside.
Let me ask you, who are the people you remember most from the past? Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts, had a little quiz, take a look.
Here’s the first quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Daytona 500 trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? The facts are none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements are forgotten and accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.
Easier? The lesson; The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
Colossians 3:15-17; Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Being at peace despite the challenges of life cannot be achieved alone. We could not be at peace with God if Christ didn’t give his life as a peace offering to God. Likewise, we cannot be at peace in our lives without someone there by our side to help us see things from the proper perspective. Peacemakers take the risk of stepping into a situation and doing whatever is necessary to bring two parties together.
As you can imagine, we have many opportunities to be peacemakers at the racetrack but not everyone sees things the same way. I remember a chance we had at one race. A team member wanted to approach a driver and ask him what was going through his mind when he spun out their driver. He asked me to go along with him so that things didn’t get out of hand. I was there to keep the peace. I am sure they still see things differently but the burden of sharing their point of view is relieved and now the steps of reconciliation have a place to start.
If we allow the burden of getting even to fester and grow in our lives, then we rob ourselves of the opportunity to be at peace. As long as we have something burning in us, our desire to get even, be made whole or get what we feel is right, we cannot be at peace. I don’t need to tell you how destructive that burning desire can be; it will eat you up until it consumes every part of your life.
Peacemaking starts with encouragement; someone must come alongside us and help us through. Encouragers are people willing to take the risk and help us to see things from a different perspective. Peacemaking isn’t about agreeing with someone, it is about bridging the gap between reality and what we understand. Most times for us to be at peace requires a leap of faith. Encourages help us make that leap.
Encouragement and accountability are the cornerstones of peacemaking. We need to be proficient at those skills if we are going to help others find the peace that God offers through Christ. Christ encouraged us to make peace with God. He gave his life to make that possible. As my friend Steve Brown says, “You think about that.”
Blessings,
Pastor Don