Laying the weapons down

Today is another holiday in Belgium. At the beginning of our street is a statue of sorts. It is the Belgian lion and in front of the lion is a short stand which is hardly even noticeable most of the year. But on this day you can see it quite well since there is a flame on its top. This is the monument to the fallen soldiers of the village. There are two and they died in WWI. Today is Armistice Day, November 11. 

It is a day which is celebrated in Belgium, but not in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands they celebrate their fallen on May 4. In the US this day in November is called Veteran’s Day, although it does not always fall oil the 11th. For the Belgians it is always on November 11 because that is the day that the armistice was signed. It was a day to put down all weapons. In Dutch, the word is literally “weapons stillness” (wapenstilstand). 

In our world today there are many places that are trying to reach an armistice. One of our young Ukrainian brothers in the church in Maastricht heard recently that his father died in the fighting in Ukraine. We know others who want to see the fighting stop in Israel and Gaza and Lebanon. Fighting continues in areas of Sudan and South Sudan,Yemen, Syria and Irak, or civil conflicts in Libya or Myanmar.  

For some of us those may all seem to be far-away conflicts, the “far-from-my-bed show”. And we might think that it is normal as long as it is NIMBY (not in my back yard). But there are other conflicts every day in our own lives. Conflicts between parents and children, between family members who don’t like each other anymore, between people who think differently politically. 

Perhaps some of these conflicts must exist. Some would look at WWII and say that it was necessary to end the evil which was growing in the world. But are all conflicts of the same magnitude? Is it really necessary to pull out the heavy artillery when your husband leaves his socks on the floor or your wife leaves the drawer open (even if both are for the “bazillionth” time)? Sometimes we need to look at what we are fighting about and see if there is another way of dealing with the situation. 

We pray that we are able to be peacemakers as much as possible, without giving up our desire to see righteousness prevail. We want to take the time to examine situations to see what weapons are necessary. Because sometimes it is diplomacy instead of attack or defense. This is a day to think about laying the weapons down. 

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18