The Ceasing of Sad Divisions

I'm still on the whole thing about carol lyrics that could pass by too quickly if I'm not paying attention. Often as not, it's what sneaks in by the third or fourth verse, less known, but making them more compelling because of their slight obscurity perhaps.

1. O come, Desire of nations, bind

1. In one the hearts of all mankind;

1. Bid all our sad divisions cease,

1. And be Thyself our King of Peace.

1. (O Come, O Come Emmanuel)
2. Immediately, I'm thinking of all the wars and rumours of wars that plague our planet right now.  The atrocities of war.  The senselessness of it all.  So big, all that.  Peace on earth.  Yes, come Emmanuel and heal all the wars.  Nations against nations.  Make it stop.
3. But I realize I don't have to go so broadly into all that before I meet up with sad divisions.  Just mention the name of a political leader, use a word you had no idea no longer means what you thought it meant, or ask the wrong question at the wrong time, and suddenly the dividing lines are all too apparent.   
4. Or talk about who is and is not welcome at Christmas dinner.  Navigate the treacherous roads of unforgiveness stored up and unsorted in time for the holidays.  Sad divisions indeed.  Smaller scale, for sure.  But huge in the hearts of those facing them.
5. And...then...
6. Where does conflict begin anyways?  Where does it end?
7. So I can pray for world peace.  But it strikes me that I'd better first be inviting the Desire of Nations into my own heart, to bind it to the hearts of my brothers and sisters.  Especially those with whom I strongly disagree.  
8. Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments.  These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers.  They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.    
9. 2 Timothy 2:23-25
10. It needs to be said here that some divisions are all the more sad because they are necessary for personal safety.  The ceasings of some of that sadness isn't humanly possible, and will require the reconciliation of all things at the end of time before they are able to once again be free to be one heart.  This is I know to be true.  And it makes me all the more aware of how badly things can go wrong, and all the more keen to sing the invitation for Emmanuel to come to heal.  
11. Gladly, I have had several good and true opportunities for open dialogue and informative listening these past months, on a number of touchy, but important issues.  I've learned a lot.  I've also experienced the surprising joy when relationships that have gone horribly south somehow find their way home again.
12. It's making me even more determined and protective of the Bride of Christ, to have us stay unified, loving, focused on mission and not anything else.  To make the main thing the main thing.  Gathered around the manger.  

I guess the opposite of sad divisions is glad reunions.

1. Yes, Lord.  Come.  
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