It’s Monday, and the price of oil is rising rapidly, and with it the price for gas at the local station. The war in the Middle East is expanding, and the threat to peace grows. Neither the UN nor the so called Board of Peace is going to pull Israel and the US back from the brink.

As I walked Nugget last night, the moon was out, the air was cold, but everything seemed peaceful and calm. We have shelter, food, family love, and we assume security. That seems to be the contradiction of life – the world is a much smaller place than it once was.

Wendy and I were invited to attend a private concert sponsored by Arrow Leadership in the home of one of the Arrow board members. TSA has been a strong supporter of Arrow, though we’ve leaned on Arrow to do some personality mending, which has been unfair to them, but that’s a distraction for this blog. The evening was wonderful – the hospitality was lovely as was the music and storytelling of Steve. I was fortunate to be in another private concert a number of years ago when I was on the Board of Trustees at BUC.

Steve is such a good storyteller – articulate but with deep reflection and wide academic knowledge. He’s an impressive communicator.

As some may not be familiar with Steve, here’s a good sample of his narrative and music.

I thought about the place of peace in our lives as I listened to Steve and heard him talk about how God speaks to him, to us, through music and people who bring wisdom into our hearing. Here were just 30 people sitting in comfort and feeling the presence of God. Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine kill each other’s people. Iran attacks many, following the attack from Israel and the USA. China has its eyes on Taiwan, and Pakistan and India are always ready to drop the gloves. And then there are things like the race to dominate the far north. And so on and so on.

So it was interesting to hear Steve talk about speaking into injustice or the kinds of things that make our blood boil. You know when you just want to say what’s on your mind because you’re so infuriated, but knowing in your heart of hearts that you will change no one’s mind. So, Steve wondered, why say anything? Maybe it’s not winning an argument that’s going to change the world. Maybe it’s not saying anything, but doing good and working ot lower the temperature of these discussions.

If we are going to make where we are a place of peace we need more people to work to lower the temperature even when those in power improperly use their place to threaten us or impose their will.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.” – Jesus