Winter has arrived! I am so excited.
I know...start telling me how crazy I am. It's ok. Everyone does. I'll wait...
Feel better now? Ok, I'll continue then.
Actually, the reason I am excited is because it is the holiday season. My favorite holiday is Christmas. I love it. I love the smiles I see on people's faces. I love how we start decorating everything with pretty lights, figurines, and ornaments that bring back fond memories of days gone by.
And I love the goodwill people tend to show to their fellow men. Well, usually they do. This year, seems to be starting out with folks finding that challenging. I know some people are mad about the grand jury verdict in Missouri and others are relieved that the officer involved was not indited for doing his job. But seriously people...how does destroying stuff and hurting people benefit anyone? I mean, if I got mad at my neighbor and so I decided to go break the windows of the folks three blocks away, then I would be clearly in the wrong and most people would think that there was something wrong with me mentally. After all, even if I really did have reason for my anger toward my neighbor it would be absolute lunacy to take it out on a random person who is clearly not involved in the situation. Not that violence of any kind is ok simply because someone is angry.
Part of my devotions today came out of Proverbs and how interesting that it seems to address just such an issue.
Proverbs 29: 8, 10-11 (NIV)
Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.
Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
It seems, we as a people, have had trouble with our anger for centuries. But, how wonderful that God doesn't leave us in our selfish way of thinking. He gives us warnings of how letting our anger control our actions will do nothing but cause more problems...and most of the time make us look bad too.
We have entered the Advent Season...a season of expectation and joy as we await celebration of the coming of our Lord. A Savior who came knowing full well our faults. Knowing we are a messed up people. But also knowing that we could be saved. It is not a season of anger but of peace. It is a season of joy...a season of love...and most of all a season of hope.
Can you imagine what would happen in our world if people were as vocal and demonstrative about spreading peace, joy, love and hope as they have been in spreading their anger and hate? We all know which is more powerful. The change we would see in the world would be mind boggling. If fact, it would be world changing.
So do you really want to change the world for the better? Really want to make a difference? Join me in sharing God's peace, joy, love and hope in the world this season. Love is much more powerful than hate. Care to help me demonstrate?
Let's change the world!
