PEACEKEEPERS VS. PEACEMAKERS

Living to be a peacekeeper is comfortable. Finding middle ground in most every conversation is an art, but mostly, a skill that everyone can learn. I’m exceptional at it, but, turns out this particular skill has the ability to be more of a vice than a virtue.

We live in an age overly concerned with expressing ourselves, our opinions—as woefully inadequately formed as the may be—and hiding behind an illusion that we are standing up against injustice by yelling louder than anyone else, as if that wins hearts and influences people. True justice is quiet. Injustice screams—but true justice is quiet. It observes, weighs, listens, teaches — justice is an educator. Justice plays the long game — it is merciful and loving, slow to anger, abundant in compassion—especially for the remorseful and repentant.

Justice tells us that meekness is a more valuable skill than being a peacekeeper.  Blessed are the peacemakers, not the peacekeepers. Peacekeepers are authoritarian, peacemakers are transformational. They understand respect and justice may be elusive, but with a confident vision of a transformed future, peacemakers put in the effort knowing it may be the base coat of a beautiful, layered, messy masterpiece.