Hubby and I were walking this path when I noticed far off in the distance the Peace Arch. If you look all the way to the very end of this path, then keep looking straight out across the water, that itty bitty white speck in the very center of the photo is the Peace Arch.
This right here what the Pathway to Peace feels like!
Sometimes it is so hard to walk the Pathway to Peace in order to maintain peace with certain people in our life. There is a sea of hurts which block the way. And of course each day as the tide goes out and come back in there are more hurts which come rushing in anew to keep the Pathway to Peace blocked.
Waaaay over there on the far side is the Peace Arch – which can represent being at peace with these certain people. There are so many hurts, always rushing in anew with the tide each day, that we just want to stay over here on this side. We don’t want to cross the sea of hurts to maintain peace with them.
We need a “boat of forgiveness” in order to cross the sea of hurts … and follow the Pathway to Peace.
Lo and behold! … check out what just so happens to be right next to the Pathway to Peace – a whole bunch of boats!
We can’t cross the sea of hurts all on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to provide a “boat of forgiveness” so that we can have safe passage across the sea of hurts … and so that we don’t drown in bitterness.
Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27
It’s all the power of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit which gives us the strength and the ability to get into the boat of forgiveness and cross the sea of hurts in order to follow the Pathway to Peace.
Here we are on the other side of the sea of hurts. But we haven’t quite arrived at the Peace Arch yet. You can see the Peace Arch is much closer now. But the Pathway to Peace still twists and turns.
We have to put forth the effort to walk the Pathway to Peace. They (whoever those certain people might be in each of our lives) aren’t going to bother from their end. So it’s up to us to put forth the effort in order to maintain peace with them. It’s up to us to keep walking in order to reach the Peace Arch.
And so … one foot in front of the other we follow the Pathway to Peace.
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Live in harmony with one another.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink.’” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” … walking the Pathway to Peace.
– Romans 12:9-21
And so we arrive at the Peace Arch. It is a magnificent monument of victory! The victory of Peace.
Indeed, walking our own personal Pathway to Peace is likewise a victory for each one of us! The fact that we are at peace with these certain people is monumental.
Inscribed on the inside of the Peace Arch is this statement: “May these gates never be closed.”
Believe me, there are times when we each wish we could just give up and let those gates slam shut! Walking the Pathway to Peace is effort! Day … after day … after day … after day …
Not every day is sunny with bright blue skies, like in these photos. No. Most days of walking the Pathway to Peace are dreary, overcast and cloudy, with a chilly wind that whips through you.
I like the statement inscribed on the top of the Peace Arch from the Canadian side: “Brethren dwelling together in unity.”
That’s straight from the Bible … “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1
Such is the Pathway to Peace. It is a journey. For some of us, it is a daily journey. Each day we make the conscious deliberate choice to forgive and to take the steps to maintain peace. For some of us the journey isn’t quite as often.
But no matter what our circumstances, we don’t walk the Pathway to Peace alone. God is right there with us every step of the way.
“I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” – Isaiah 41:13
“The way of the godly leads to life.” – Proverbs 12:28
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
