1. What does peacemaking mean to you?
Understanding, forgiveness, desire to move forward, laying down of animosity, having a shared goal or aim; these are the words that come to mind when I think of peace-keeping. They sound easy when you say them, but these words are some of the hardest to live out.
2. How do we heal tensions that affect our relationship with one another?
By finding a reason to go forward together.
I know this because I live with this as I try to mend a family rift. It's so hard, much harder than keeping things broken. It involves honesty and tears and prayers; but if everyone can agree on the purpose for trying to mend tensions then it can work.
3. What stops us welcoming each other as Christ welcomes us?
I don't know; I don't get it, never have.
For me our opinions provide excitement, our history gives depth, our differences gives knowledge.
Christ welcomed all; all people of all nations through all time. If we keep that at the front of our kind then our human, experiential, social and denominational differences should slip away to nothing of importance.
Loving and merciful God, speak peace to our hearts and minds that we may make peace in the world: breaching divisions to bring reconciliation, bringing justice to bear where prejudice prevails, bearing your grace in and through our lives. Amen.
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