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(LUKE 2:14) |
Well, we may be
just as far away from attaining “peace on earth” as we were some 2,000 years
ago, but I see signs of “good will” everywhere.
Within our own
church family, from November to February we will we have collected Thanksgiving
food for the Riverhead food pantry, donated 125 gifts for needy children
through the Giving Tree, taken our youth caroling at the veteran’s home in
Stony Brook, hosted a Christmas concert to benefit Toys For Tots and MIPC missions, cheered our youth as they compete
in the annual “Souperbowl” race to collect soup for the needy, supported our
missionaries as they travel to New Orleans with Habitat for Humanity, and
countless other gestures – big and small – to reach out to our neighbors near
and far.
But we're “supposed
to do that”, you say…we’re a church!
Ah, but good will is infectious!
It has the marvelous power to generate more good will to those who are touched by good deeds and kind
gestures! Haven’t you ever noticed that
you feel more fortunate and thankful upon hearing a tragic story in the news,
or learning of a friend’s illness or family troubles? That brief “there but for the grace of God go I” sentiment often spurs
us to give our loved ones an extra hug, or to drop an extra can of soup in our
shopping cart, or to volunteer in a way that perhaps we might not normally have
been moved to do.
It would be very
simple for us to throw up our hands in despair, and decide that the world’s
problems are just too big for us to solve.
But God doesn’t intend one person, or one church, or even one community
to change the whole world. If each of
us were to touch one other person with a gesture of love, or support, or
generosity, those ripples of “good will” would resonate out into the world at
large.
And there are plenty
of instances of God’s love outside these church walls. Scout troops are busy collecting food for
the needy. A local fire department is
attempting to “stuff a bus” with non-perishable food by New Year’s Day. The newspapers are filled with stories of
families in need, and ways to sponsor those families and alleviate their
suffering. Many schools support food
and toy drives, lots of companies and organizations sponsor blood drives, and
local stores have been known to donate food or match food donations for the
needy. Different groups sponsor walks,
runs, bike and motorcycle rides to raise money for much-need medical research
to find cures for prevalent diseases such as cancer and diabetes. “Good will” is everywhere! It’s out there, making a difference in
people’s lives as we speak. And not
just a difference for the people on the receiving end, but also for those who
are doing the giving. Because “doing unto
others” generates even more good will.
And who knows, if we keep at it, maybe next year we can take a crack at
“peace on earth”!