The Price of Peace

[Note: Sorry for the awkwardness of the post. This is new to me and I've been working in this since April. I hope it doesn't take away from the message.]

What is peace?
This is the definition from a dictionary:

1. freedom from disturbance, quiet and tranquility, mental calm; serenity
2. freedom from or the cessation of war or violence

A close friend of mine, upon hearing this definition replied, "I totally disagree with them. 'Cause man, my life has been full of pain, crap and almost open war with church-goers. And yet I've been peaceful at times."

We had been discussing the idea of peace after realizing that peace (real peace, explained below) is a very hard thing to come by. My friend agreed and said that along with that, you had to decide how much it's worth. You had to decide if peace is worth everything, or if there are other things that are worth more.

Like truth. Or hope. Or love.

Is truth worth more than peace? Or is peace worth more than love?(and so on) To answer these questions, you have to have a definition of peace. You have to know what it is. The above definition doesn't seem to work. I think peace is a feeling you get in your soul. A sense of bliss, clam and joy. It's "not worrying even during the pain and struggle."

Or does it go deeper than even that? My life always seems to be too dramatic to be peaceful. The only peace I can find is when I look to God and let him lead me and love me. In church, my pastor begins the service by telling us to greet each other and pass the Peace of Christ. So, the Peace of Christ is something that can be shared. And if you ask me, the "Peace of Christ" seems to match the definition I came up with.

Now that we have a definition for the Peace of Christ, can we answer those questions? Is there something worth more than peace for you? Is love, or hope, or truth that important? Would you be willing to give you that feeling of calmness to feel loved? To feel hopeful and optimistic? To be dealt with honestly? I don't know about you, but I feel like peace is a package deal. When I am peaceful with God in my heart, I feel loved, I am hopeful. With the Peace of Christ in me, I feel Truth in my soul. So maybe, just maybe, we don't need to decide if peace is worth more or less. Maybe, the price of peace is just believing in God and Jesus and giving our lives to them.

I Will Be Here

I love Stephen Curtis Chapman's music. I Will Be Here just played on my iTunes and I thought of something my sister BethAnn did a few weeks ago that seemed to work with this one. I didn't include names, but there is a certain name to go with each.

Tomorrow morning if you wake
up and the sun does not appear
I will be here

~My friend, one of these days the sun will start shinning for you.

If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand, and have no fear
'Cause I will be here

~My brother who lost his way and lost his true love because of it.

I will be here

When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen

~My sister, you've always done this for me; now it's my turn.

And I will be here
When the laughter turns to cryin'
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here

~My sister, no matter what comes of our current challenges, we're only a phone call away.

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here

~My sister who isn't sure of the right path for her future.

Just as sure as seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes were made for these years
So I will be here

~My brother, 14 years is not long enough.

I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you

~My friend who dreams of a time when things were simpler; when we were younger.
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here

~My best friend forever, you are becoming a beautiful young woman, and I hope one day you will be able to see that too.

I will be true to the promise I have made
To you and to the One who gave you to me

~My brother, I will keep my promises and I thank God for you everyday.

Tomorrow morning, if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
Oh, I will be here