What’s This ‘Peace on Earth’?

The Message of Christmas

My Dear Lovelians and Lifers,

It’s 9:57PM Christmas Eve. I’ve re-written the draft for this letter three times. Each was over three pages long. I just feel like I’m overcomplicating something that’s actually pretty simple in concept. Have you ever thought about the phrase ‘peace on Earth’ that crops up every year around Christmas time? Ever thought about why that is or where it comes from or why only Christmas and no other holiday? I’ve thought about these kinds of questions a lot recently.

It's nearly impossible to escape current events nowadays, what with global news within easy access of our itchy fingertips, but even before the internet came about, history textbooks make it quite clear that peace has been the farthest thing from Earth long before we’ve been able to connect the dots. So why do people continue to say it year after year? For some, it may be wrapped in tradition. They don’t know why they say it; they just do because they’ve always said it at Christmas, and it makes them feel warm and fuzzy inside for a moment.

Or maybe…it’s just hope. Pure simple hope that still believes in what could be despite what is. A hope that for me and many Christians began when God decided to physically enter the world in the form of a human baby. Peace on Earth. It’s what angels joyfully declared at His birth. To shepherds no less. Kings may have found Jesus later to honor him with gifts, but God sought out the shepherds. I can’t help but smile. It’s always been His calling card to seek out those who’ve been left behind by society or treated as insignificant.

Original image credit to Dan Kiefer

It begs the question----why? Why would God, the CEO of Life itself, resign His position and the wealth of Heaven even for a moment to become a poor, fragile, rather gross at times human being? Us. We are the answer. God had his reasons for choosing the timing, place, and people, but at the heart of it all, was us, His creation, perfect at the beginning; flawed by our own choice. He came because we needed Him. History shows time and again peace is not in flawed human nature, so He gave us a little bit of Heaven, and He brought it Himself, making peace easily accessible to those who ask Him for it and rest in trust that He will provide it.

Get this. Christmas is only the beginning…

Stay tuned, friends, and Merry Christmas!

Stay Curious,

Olivia

P.S. Ramen noodles are delicious. Received some in my stocking Christmas morning as a joke. I am quite literally the happiest human.