passing the peace

Here are few things I brought home from church with me yesterday, thanks to our hymnal,

, in the order I found them.

I came to church with Gaza on my heart. After worship, I sat in a meeting where we talked about how we were scaling back the church budget because we were fearful there would not be enough pledges.

“When are we going to live by faith?” Ginger asked.

Peace -- which according to the quotes above encompasses compassion, generosity, courage, dynamism, tenacity, faith, commitment, determination, action, intentionality, and love -- is hard work. Harder work, I think, than most folks are willing to do. Perhaps we talk of violence and fear as inevitable parts of life because they are less demanding choices to make. Yes, they are painful choices, but all they require of us are to be angry and scared. To be one who makes “a generous and tranquil contribution to all” is a much tougher assignment.

May the peace of Christ inflict and inhabit you.
And also with me.

Peace,
Milton