What Makes Peace? 4 – Constructive

It’s hard to know which one is more frustrating. The one who is inactive, ot the one who actively frustrates the desire for peaceful progress.

The reason why it’s such a tight race between the two types of people is because in as much as the latter is an opponent, at least you know where you stand with them. The inactive one takes on many guises, the best one being the well-meaning, well-intentioned amiable type. This type of person is the sort to get excited about an idea, maybe even say some positive words about it, but when it comes to putting ideas into practice they have good reasons why they are not able to act.

I am well aware of this particular type of person because I can relate wholeheartedly to their way of being. After all, they mean well, they don’t want to upset anyone, they see how good an idea and what good can emerge. They acknowledge all that. It’s just that when it comes down to it, they don’t want ti that much.

Thank God peacemakers are not that way inclined.

With a clear priority and enthusiastic desire to progress and able to put into action all that is needed, peacemakers are known for getting on with it and building bridges. Bridges from the now to the the Kingdom. There is no team for good intentions and no backing. There are people to be reached and bridges to be built that will help bring them over.

Their aim is not to in any way offend, but they are aware that what they do will offend anyway. They do it because they want to be a part of creating solutions. They see opportunities and realise to get there will require people who will not oppose overtly or subtly. They need people who will recognise the call on their lives and carry it out.

This constructive approach to peace is always on the look out for how to build something to help people across as well as build something with others that will help us cross into each other’s world. Fiery critics are only successful to a limited degree. The quest for knowledge sees that to know things is to build on what others know to create a masterpiece of the human experience.

Bridges can be built to facilitate that. Peacemakers are keen that because as long as there are ways for people to come across and see the light for themselves the wider the opportunity to practice the harmony at the heart of who God is.

That is a constructive approach. Some people may not be up for it, but peacemakers are quick to make the most of these opportunities, submitting themselves to whoever they relate to to understand them and make roads for progress, not gates for blocking.

That is not to paint peacemakers as the sort to allow anything. The priority is clear and that determines the bridges built and the road made. After all each bridge and road is as much to allow the word of Jesus to get across as it is to allow someone to come the other way.

This approach, however, this constructive approach is far greater, far better, far deeper and far richer than the decision to be negative or inactive.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C.L. J. Dryden