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This Sunday is “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday.” Because we are pro-life, many people assume that means we hate people that are pro-choice. In a conversation with one of our college students recently I was reminded of this tension. He told me that when he tells people that he is a Christian, he has to start by saying, “and I don’t hate you.” It’s sad to me that we are living in a day that a follower of Christ has to start a conversation with those words.

In theology, Eschatology is the study of “end times.” There has been interest in the “end” since the Ascension of Christ. As the disciples stood, looking up into the Heavens, an angel said, “Why do you stand here gazing up into Heaven? This same Jesus…will come in like manner as you saw Him go.” Since that day, people have been looking for the clues, twisting verses, naming dates and claiming they know things that nobody else knows about the return of Jesus.

It’s that time of year. As we change calendars, planners, file taxes and make plans we experience to one degree or another the rhythm of ending and beginning. We are saying goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024. Some people use this rhythm as a time for reflection. Looking back on our past year can bring both celebration and discouragement.

“…is love, sweet love.” You’ve probably heard the song. It might be playing in your mind right now. The rest of the song goes on to say that we have enough mountains, hills, oceans, rivers, meadows etc., but what we need more of is, love. It’s not wrong.

Whenever I think about the angelic announcement, “Peace on earth…,” I also think about how much unrest and conflict there has been in the past 2,000 years. Local wars, world wars, civil, religious and land wars to name a few. World attention is focused on the war in Ukraine and Gaza but did you know that there are over 30 additional smaller wars going on in the world right now? If wars were the only unrest, millions would be at peace but there is unrest even when there is no official war.