#7 on my list of things to do when the world is at war is - Practice Peacemaking.

Obviously, unless you are a diplomat or an ambassador or the Secretary of State, there is not much any one of us can do to literally make peace in a war zone.

We can pray for peace in a war zone, yes.

But forging a peace treaty in global conflict is out of our hands.

However, forging a peace treaty in our home, neighborhood, office, church, or community, is most definitely not out of our hands.

I often find I am blinded to this truth when I spend my time bemoaning scenes of war on my TV screen.

What a fancy little trick! Right?

Wring my hands about war and conflict about which I can do nothing, all while I neglect my own, very real opportunities to make peace in my little corner of the world.

So I want to ask myself:

Where might you make peace today?

With whom?

What might that look like?

Where might a simple apology bridge a divide?

An act of unprompted kindness?

I remember I can forgive someone without condoning what they did. I can forgive without letting them back into my life in the same way as before. I can forgive and make peace and still maintain healthy boundaries.

I can make peace and when I do, the world will become more peaceful.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."

The apostle Paul writes, "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

What is one small step you could take today to bring peace to your corner of the world?

Turn off the news and do it. It won't stop the war in Ukraine, but it may stop the war in your home.

And THAT, my friends, is the peace-making power that sits right in our hands today and every day.