Peace Moment for Nov. 28, 2021
By Deb Crowley
Either/or? Polarization in today’s culture says, “You’re wrong and I am right” or “I am right and you are wrong!”
Can tough questions have answers that are “both/and?”
II Nephi 1:81 posits “for it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things,” and ultimately, if it were not so, there would be no God.
The poetic verses in Ecclesiastes 3 teach us there is a time for everything
3 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
Luke 21: 25-36 juxtaposes the coming of Christ in glorious splendor and power against the coming of Christ as a helpless infant in a manger.
When our vision is limited, we understand through “either/or”
God works in the realm of “both/and.” A promise fulfilled and a promise to come with the challenge to not live in fear, but bring blessing in this world as disciples of Christ.
Trust, faith, belief in God’s timing soothes the soul and we celebrate once again the Prince of Peace lying in a manger, sent to the world for purposes still unfolding.
“Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon Lift up your eyes and fix them on the place beyond the horizon to which you are sent. Journey in trust, assured that the great and marvelous work is for this time and for all time.…” D&C 161:1a
Prayer: God, help us seek the wonder of your movement in our world. Help us see beyond the destructive tendencies of this human race that is our existence. Grant us vision to look beyond the horizon….beyond the immediate…beyond our own fears and suppositions to new light, new understanding, new action that can bring healing and wholeness and peace to your world. Amen