"A time for war and a time for peace..."

"Blessed ARE the peacemakers, for their work is hard and often frustrating. But peace, when obtained, can be oh, so sweet." 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 teaches us, "There is a time for love and a time to hate, there is a time for war and a time for peace." Today we rejoice by saying "Blessed be the peacemakers!" This war in Gaza has been ugly since day one. Ever since Israel got invaded by the blood thirsty barbarians called Hamas. And what were most of the victims doing when the attack happened? Prepping for war? Nope - they were at a music festival. That day, October 7, 2023, became a day for hate and war for Hamas. How Israel responded, also started a time of hate and war for Israel. Hate and war against Hamas and the Gazans who harbored them. 

But now today, peace is breaking out all over. The IDF is pulling back from central Gaza. Tens of thousands of Gazan refugees are starting the slow march back into their city, most of which lies in ruins. Hamas is being reunited with other mass murderers who were let go by the Israeli government in return for the 20 remaining (alive) hostages. Lord only knows what kind of shape those hostages will be in. But this is the dawning of peace, after two years of war. Will it hold? Will phase II of the peace talks work out? Unknown - right now it is one day at a time.

Peace can actually be contagious. Even though Ukraine is still steeped in war, there is a glimmer of hope as the First Lady and Vladimir Putin are in phone negotiations for the release of some abducted Ukrainian children. Yes, this is a true story. Even if the First Lady can convince Putin to release a handful of these kids back to their homeland (and hopefully their parents), this would be a huge win.

Donald Trump's record on being a peacemaker during his second term has been nothing less than stellar. Seriously, stellar. Even though he was snubbed in getting the Nobel Peace Prize, we all know that he deserved it. Heck, even Hillary Clinton is giving him some kudos. Never saw that one coming! 

Being a peace maker is tough work. Keeping the peace is even tougher work. Making war is easy work. Killing can become automatic in war, whereas peace and mercy takes intentionality.

Blessed ARE the peacemakers, for their work is hard and often frustrating. But peace, when obtained, can be oh, so sweet.