Yesterday was the second Sunday in Advent – that often focuses on peace.
I started the day thinking about the romantic comedy ‘Guys and Dolls’. The pious Sarah Brown, committed to the ‘Save-a Soul Mission’ falls in love with and marries Sky Masterson, a gambler who’ll bet on anything… Nathan Detroit, who runs illegal gambling sessions finally marries night club singer Miss Adelaide, his fiancé of fourteen years.
In Guys and Dolls all four Advent themes – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love are evident.
At church I met Doreen. The mother of six daughters, Doreen has just celebrated her eightieth birthday. She described a wonderful surprise party that the family had kept secret and arranged for her. More than thirty of them met together at the home of one of the sisters.
Granddaughter Sammy-Jo was with Doreen; she was delighted that the family had been together for the whole day without any arguments or disagreements! Doreen and Sammy-Jo described a day of hope, peace, joy and love…
Later, we were reminded of the 1940 bombing of Coventry. The next morning Provost Richard Howard wrote ‘Father forgive’ on the charred walls of Coventry Cathedral.
Howard described the city’s devastation in his broadcast Christmas Day sermon: ‘…We are trying, hard as it may be, to banish all thoughts of revenge. We are bracing ourselves to finish the tremendous job of saving the world from tyranny and cruelty; we are going to try to make a kinder, simpler – a more Christ-Child-like sort of world in the days beyond this strife.’
This morning I read of ‘hope as an anchor for the soul’. Outside the boat there may be a storm – a decided lack of peace. Within the boat (perhaps the boat of faith?) there’s peace – because of the secure confidence held in the anchor of hope.
Perhaps this is the kinder, simpler peace that was discovered in the Guys and Dolls unexpected relationships, Doreen’s complex extended family, and the Provost Howard’s ‘Father forgive’ desire for a more Christ-child-like sort of world.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Thanks for this today Malcolm, reminded me of the words from the Boys Brigade hymn “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life.” We have an anchor that’s strong and true, so strong that we can hold on to it through the storms and challenges of our lives.
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I was reminded of Andrew’s funeral as I wrote this, David – the Salvation Army lady reading the verse and applying it to him.
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As a youngster whose father had fought and been captured during WWII I was very much aware of the bombing of Coventry and the blitz in general.
I also wondered how many innocent people died in Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg, Leipzig and many other cities.
When young we weren’t actually told but left to believe that the deaths of our people was evil but the deaths of all those “boche” was just.
I suppose everyone at war probably believes their God is on their side.
I hope this Christmas brings some sort of relief to the many still suffering from war. But then it will probably be no more relief from conflict than the football played in no-mans land during WWI.
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I agree, Alan. Throughout history, it seems to me that people have been inconsistent in their standards of justice, theology and value of humanity. I think this is another one that we could sit and debate for an hour or two.
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Oh my goodness, Malcolm! I appreciate this so much. The audio from the bombed out cathedral was heartbreaking but expressed such beautiful hope. Thank you so much.
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I’d heard the story before, Lori. I was delighted to discover the sermon on YouTube yesterday. I understand that his desire for peace and not revenge made him very unpopular at the time,
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That’s sad to hear- that he was criticized. I hope he had personal support. It’s so difficult to speak out. 🙏
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A more Christ-child sort of world – something to hope for. Here’s to peace.
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Somehow that seems kinder and simpler, Wynne.
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