
It’s no surprise that we’re feeing a little unsettled and discouraged these days.
Hear this story from Jay Gurnett from Edmonton, Alberta:
Daughter Ruth gave our new little church, Peace Christian Community, a smart talk on December 26.
She made reference to “on earth peace” – but spent a good chunk of the time telling us the story of Don and Carol Richardson, somewhat famous missionaries to Indonesia, who ended up being part of a peace-making ceremony between rival indigenous tribes. Peace was made when a child from one tribe (child of the chief) was given to another tribe to be raised by the others.
And vice versa.
This was the beginning of spreading the gospel in that part of the world to people who had till then mostly honoured sly people like Judas Iscariot.
They grasped the concept of a God who gave his son as a peace child.
The Prince of Peace as peace child.
Sometimes I struggle with inner peace (remembering that Jesus said in John 14 that “peace is my parting gift to you”).
While Ruth was talking, I suddenly saw that what I needed to do when anxiety raised its ugly head, was to pick up that little baby Prince of Peace, and hold him to myself.
I’ve done this a number of times in the weeks since.
I’ve had great comfort holding that baby.