Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

“Peace is the seed-bed of righteousness, and the peacemakers will reap its harvest.” James 3:18 – Revised English Version

Terrible things happen in war. Whether it was an errant rocket by Palestinian militants or an Israeli bomb landing on the wrong target, the explosion which hit the Al Ahli Hospital in the Gaza Strip on October 17, people died.   Whatever it’s source, hundreds of people are just as dead. Hundreds are injured. Devastation is left behind.

Wails of grief pierce the sky . . . Wails in Israel from Hamas’ deadly invasion . . .  Wails in Gaza from Israel’s bombs. Tears stream and those who make war continue in their deadly game.

In the depths of all of this is the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza, where water has been cut off, hospitals are on the brink of collapse and food is scarce. Promises of Humanitarian Aid flowing into Gaza remain unfulfilled.

So what are we to say of this?

War is evil and violence begets violence. Wars escalate without intervention. The innocent suffer the most.

Howard Thurman wrote in his book, Jesus and the Disinherited, “During times of war, hatred becomes quite respectable even though it has to masquerade often under the guise of patriotism.” He says of Jesus, “It was not because he lacked the vitality or the strength. It was not because he lacked the incentive. Jesus rejected hatred because he saw that hatred meant death to the mind, death to the spirit, death to communion with his Father. He affirmed life; and hatred was the great denial.”

Jim Wallis wrote an excellent summary of our current situation in a piece called “The urgency of maturity in the Middle East and the U. S. Congress,” which gives depth and understanding to the issues behind the war.  A link can be found here: “The urgency of maturity in the Middle East and the U.S. Congress”

“The peace sown by peacemakers brings a harvest of justice.” James 3:18 New Jerusalem Bible