World War 1 began in the summer of 1914. By the end of that year, a continuous line of trenches stretched from the English Channel to Switzerland. At Christmas, 100,000 men entered the no man’s land between the trenches to exchange food and souvenirs. Some meetings ended in caroling. That Christmas Truce demonstrates how peace prevails through the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Today, we have dug metaphorical trenches that represent the polarization of people, and a no man’s land of intolerance exists between them. The lyrics from the song “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” ring true, saying that “hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, goodwill to men.” If we are to recreate the Christmas Truce of 1914, it must begin today as it did almost 100 years ago when one brave soul reached out to his enemy in a spirit of peace and understanding. The Spirit of Christ has the power to penetrate the hearts of the most hardened. Therefore, let each of us be that one brave soul who reaches out to others in the Spirit of Jesus Christ so that we can experience the miracle of a Christmas Truce in 2023.
