One song was a parody of (I think - open to being corrected here) "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas," but the words were "Have an Existential Crisis," referring to how easily the news around the world right now could easily make us 'spiral down', and rob us of any sense of personal peace.
They nailed it. Like I said, I can't find it on line at the moment, but the whole song was filled with everything antithetical to 'peace on earth', and was not too far off several conversations I've been having leading up to the holidays. Things are grim. It's hard to think about.
Some folks choose not to watch the news at all, or at least to limit their media exposure. I respect that. It is certainly a challenge to stay mentally and spiritual healthy in the midst of the onslaught.
"Peace on earth" (Luke 2:14) is indeed the message of Christmas. And yet. Where is it?
The prophet Micah gives us a glimpse of something that is on tap for 'the last days', a phrase which is a clue for us in terms of time lines and God's end game.
In chapter 4, following a series of images directly addressing national disputes and the violence of war, there's this statement that always grips my heart with longing.
"Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid." (v4)
That part about the vine and the fig tree refer to ancient images of abundance and real estate. Food and housing, in other words.
But it's the part of no one being afraid that gets me.
Yes, it's overwhelming to realize that vulnerable people are living in terror right now, in deplorable conditions. Yes, we should pray for peace for them. This is clearly not God's heart for anyone, not when He continually describes peace as His final plan for humanity.
But that's all so big and overwhelming. Thinking about it too much could indeed send me into an existential crisis. If I stay out there in the realm beyond my own agency.
Except I think there's an alternative. It occurs to me that there are ways that we can help bring God's final plans into clearer focus right now. Help bring "Thy kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven' in micro ways over which we do indeed have some control.
What if we simply made it a priority to help make people feel safe in our presence? What if we could be, in some small way - some micro version of Micah - that vine or that fig tree where people could come and sit and not be afraid?
Not afraid of judgement.
Not afraid of betrayal.
Not afraid of being put down,
or dismissed,
or ignored.
Not afraid of having a confidence broken.
Not afraid of not being "enough,"
or of being "too much."
Not afraid of being hated for an opposing opinion.
Not afraid of being ridiculed for beliefs.
Not afraid of not measuring up.
Let's face it. All those fears can be activated at gatherings over the holidays, both with colleagues and with family.
What if we could actually be part of bringing peace on earth by being people that other people were not afraid to be with?
Wars don't start out of a vacuum.
There's a lot of fear that comes first.
Usually for a long, long time.
Fear that lead to hate that leads to war.
What if we could, in some micro way, push the wave back?
Safety that leads to love that leads to peace.
Just with the people God puts in our lives.
See where it goes from there.
Call me crazy,
but I think it couldn't hurt.
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