Gary Brown: Peace on Earth, I personally promise it
"Peace on Earth, good will toward men."
I might seem tardy with this sentiment. Christmas and New Year's are over and I know that it is seen as a traditional holiday card wish. I wanted to blurt it out anyway, several days out of context, because I made it my only resolution for the fresh start of our new year.
Technically, the sentiment is slightly different in its original wording. Luke began it with a theological introduction in his gospel.
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"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger," he wrote. "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ... 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"
So, as far as being peaceful creatures is concerned, we've got the birth of Christ going for us. That's a big assist, you would assume. But, unfortunately in this sense, our free will seems to be our own worst enemy.
Historically, we have had a bit of a problem finding a lasting peace – in the Middle East or any other particular place much less the entire world – and our good will toward men or women or their children and pets at times is severely lacking in our day-to-day activities.
Being good at the holidays, ostensibly so Santa comes, only makes many of us feel good.
Making a resolution of peace
So, I made pairing peace and good will my sole resolution. Promote peace and show good will toward all of you – even the ones who beat me in golf and pickleball. Especially, you golfers and picklers. It isn't your fault that I don't keep my eye on the ball.
God knows it isn't His fault, so I can't blame Him for a lack of athletic success and whine about it.
That's why I decided to take Luke's words – which were an announcement or advice, depending how you look at it – and do whatever I can to fill our lives with as much peace as possible and upgrade the way we treat each other.
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I have no high expectations. I'm well aware of how we act. Christians call all of us, themselves included, sinners. We're not going to stop going to war. And, nothing I say here or do in the days to come, is going to end the conflict in the Ukraine or cause a cease-fire in the shelling of Israel or Gaza. A simple personal resolution can't save those lives that are, each day, being lost.
Still, when I say "nice putt" on the 18th green or if I congratulate "good game" over a pickleball net, at the very least I want to mean it.
Know what needs to stop
Sports opponents aren't the only ones I occasionally treat, well, not bad exactly, but not as nicely as I should.
Phone solicitors. I could turn them down more pleasantly.
Courtesy desk workers at stores. I should return broken items without somehow sounding as though I'm blaming them, and then thank them with a smile instead of a scowl or self-satisfied smirk.
Car service department clerks. I really would like to receive the invoices they hand me after work is done on my vehicle and not look at them in disbelief, as though they added in extra labor or parts charges for coffee that mechanics purchased on their breaks.
There are so many other moments in my life during which – I hope not as often as sometimes my memory recalls – I act, at some level, unkindly. Stress, frustration and simple tightness of time in my life, for example, can make me honk our horns in slow traffic. I need to travel in silence, listening to the car radio instead of my irritated voice if I need to hear a sound.
Which is why I resolved to be more peaceful in my approach to my daily activities. I hope I was most often already exhibiting patience and respect, but, knowing there were those occasions that I failed, I promise now to be peaceful in my approach to people. I shouldn't have had to resolve a change in behavior, I'll readily admit, but knowing that perfection in my past was unattainable, I shall strive now to do better.
Regarding conflicts and mistreatment of people on a larger scale throughout the world, all I can do is pray for peace and good will. It's not a resolution. It's just a humble start.
Reach Gary at gary.brown.rep@gmail.com. On Twitter: @gbrownREP.
This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Gary Brown: Peace on Earth, I personally promise it
