This past weekend America celebrated Memorial Day. Traditionally, this is the day we honor those who lost their lives while defending their country and those they left behind. It is also the unofficial kick-off to summer, so we hear a lot of mixed messaging: solemnly remember those who were taken too soon but remember to get a great deal on a new fridge. And this is the contrast of the world we live in and the world we want to show Jesus.

For most of my lifetime the news has been inundated with conflicts around the world. I remember being 7 or 8 and frustrated because my cartoons were interrupted to talk about war. And it feels like that coverage never stopped. When you check the news today, you must decide which conflict to follow, and which one has been pushed out of the news cycle because a new one just started. It is so overwhelming.

As Christians, death is our enemy in all its forms. Death removes the opportunity for reconciliation and forgiveness. Christ came that we no longer had to fear death and judgment through his saving work on the cross. As we remember those that have been lost, we need to take on the hard work of pushing our world to a place where needless death doesn’t fill the airwaves.

We need to strive to live in ways that come from above us. Our earthly wariness will always find an enemy. Humans are masters of finding an “us” to put against a “them,” but we can do better. James in 3:17-18 reminds us of this, “17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

We can be the people who are willing to make peace in a world that is waging war. If you have lost someone I am so sorry for the brokenness of our world and I pray you use that loss as inspiration to bring more peace into the world.