“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  Proverbs 15:1

“Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”  2 Timothy 1:13

I was watching the newspaper for an anecdote relative to the above verses. Eyes scanning headlines, fingers thumbing pages, head spinning … evening news, head still spinning!

It seems bombast is expected and ‘normal’ language … sparring, name-calling and insults, road rage “ASL”.  Retaliation with violence and shooting is a too common option – between nations, gangs, domestic violence, racial/cultural differences … political opinions.  Peace talks are needed not just between nations, but within communities and families.

Jesus did not promote “self”.  Jesus commanded “Love your neighbor”, with no description of color or language … or opinion.  The neighbor Jesus described was an outsider who felt compassion for a stranger lying by the roadside.  There was no mention of questions because either was from somewhere else or had different opinions.  Love does not pass by but stops, sees, and cares.  Love does not want bad things for others.  It seems we are at a place where many pass by and refuse to see bad things happening to others, even encourage it. 

In a recent sermon our pastor told us his son’s teacher would say “You can do hard things.”  She probably wasn’t thinking how hard it is to say, “I’m sorry.”  “I was wrong.”  To ask “How do you feel?  Are you OK?  How can I help you?”  That’s harder than reading and writing.

“Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” * Amen 

*    By Jill Jackson and Sy Miller

Verla Olson

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party