Peace steals across the landscape of our souls, mellow as a February thaw, able to melt the frozen ground of our hate and bitterness. Do we want to allow that anger and bitterness to thaw? Or do we hug it to ourselves as false comfort?
Peace skips across the landscape of our souls, leaving budding Spring flowers of joy in its footsteps. Do we rejoice in those budding flowers: an infant's first steps; children's smiles; crayon-scribbled drawings on our refrigerator; a teen's unexpected hug; a spouse's gift of coffee or roses; a friend's birthday card in the mail? Or do we ignore the birth of Spring in our souls, and huddle weeping for the the ones who are no longer here but bloom anew in Heaven?
Peace sings, ushering in radiant Summer to our souls with the music of running brooks and deep lakes and turbulent oceans. The holy, various music of the voices of all those coming in and out of our lives can lift our souls out of darkness and despair, readying them to dance. But do we hide in isolation, insulating our soul's walls against sound so we will hear no voices that could sing us into relationships, responsibility, love, and life? Do we cover our ears to block out the wonder of the whole world's loving voice?
Peace blows like a pensive Autumn breeze across the landscape of our souls, a breeze laden with memories of wood smoke, hot cinnamon applesauce, the smell of new masks for Halloween, and succulent turkeys for Thanksgiving - frolicking smells, feasting smells. Does the breeze of memories exhilarate our souls with images of mad dashes down darkened streets to open doorways and gentle hands offering baskets of candy? Or memories of tables laden with holiday foods and lit with golden candles, surrounded by dear faces? Do we allow memories of festive yesterdays to fill our souls with the fragrance of gratitude for all we've experienced? Or do we turn away, locking the memories away from us in steel safes, cutting off their power to save and re-energize us with thankfulness?
Peace sleds into the landscape of our souls with glistening Winter snow, a manger, and a baby's birth. Peace calls us to come to the manger scene it has set up anew in our souls: the straggling sheep and stately camels, the ragged shepherds and regal kings; the awed parents, the awesome angel chorus. Peace waits for us to fall on our knees before the Holy Child who lies asleep on his mother's breast under the shadow of the cross. Do we kneel? Do we gaze awestruck? Do we believe what we see - the One Who is the salvation and comfort of our lives? Do our hearts expand with the hope that, because of this Child, all will be well with us? Do we recognize the Son of God who chooses to live in the stable of our souls?
Peace is a gift God always offers us, a gift to purify and renew the landscape of our souls, a gift replete with love, joy, faith, hope, and gratitude. It is our choice whether we open our hearts, and recognize the Prince of Peace. It is Jesus Who is our Peace, Who makes us all one, who breaks down the barriers of anger, bitterness, ingratitude, and hopelessness that keep us apart.
Welcome Him into the stable of your soul.