I am intrigued by people who create peace in the world. They often do it in small ways that are easily overlooked. Just last week while standing in line for a snack at the airport a man came rushing up and asked if he could cut in line. At first the women around me bristled. He explained that his plane had been delayed getting in and he was running late for his connecting flight but that he hadn't eaten in 10 hours. The women graciously let him in line in front of them.  Peacemakers. I was in a meeting recently where the tension in the room was mounting. One of the men cracked a joke and you could feel the atmosphere change. Peacemaker. While dining out last week I watched a woman send her salad back to the kitchen saying it was not acceptable. The server sincerely apologized and took the salad away with no further comment.  She returned with a fresh salad and did all she could to accommodate the customer. Peacemaker.

In November I had the privilege of visiting Nicaragua, a beautiful country that has been torn apart in recent years by civil war, greedy leaders, and natural disasters.  In the midst of all of this chaos, Nicaraguan citizens, using their own meager resources, have begun orphanages and feeding centers for the poorest of the poor children. Big time peacemakers!

All of these people have something in common: they were willing to set themselves aside on behalf of others. We are all pretty good at knowing our rights and how we SHOULD be treated. Peacemakers are not stupid people. They are people who understand that in a crowded world there has to be give and take, and they prefer to be on the giving side more often than not. Be on the lookout for peacemakers this holiday season and let them know how much you appreciate them. Join us as we further explore peace communicated through art, poetry and our blog this month. And just for fun, practice being a peacemaker today!