Saturday, 26 December 2009

• Peace on Earth: Christmas Spirit in a Time of War

  There is something to be said about the change in people during the winter holidays. Despite the corruption of the Christian tradition through the years -- which was set in place to cover the pagan celebrations of course  -- there is a spirit that still pierces people to embrace peace and good will. More than anything, Christmas is about God coming to earth to be with man and to rescue humanity. Many people celebrate this historical and divine happening in different ways. One of the most beautiful ways I've ever encountered is found in this story. Enjoy.
  

  On the battlefields of Yires, Belgium, during the winter of 1914, British and French troops had for weeks been engaged in a fierce battle with the Germans. The two sides were lined up for miles in trenches a mere sixty to eighty yards apart. Both sides had already suffered heavy casualties.

  On Christmas Eve, several German troops put small candle-lit Christmas trees outside their trenches and began singing carols. Then, remarkably, some British and French troops began to sing along in their own language. Before long, up and down the miles of opposing lines the enemy soldiers were singing carols together. The miracle of the moment, contrasting so sharply with the hateful; killing that had gone on just hours before brought tears to some men’s eyes.

  But the real miracle happened next. At some point, soldiers on both sides began raising signs in the enemy’s native language wishing them a Merry Christmas and, in some cases, calling for a Christmas reprieve from fighting. After a while, soldiers on both sides slowly began to put down their weapons and venture out of their cold, muddy trenches to greet one another in “No Man’s Land,” the space between the two sides. Combatants shook hands and began exchanging gifts -- tobacco, cognac, newspapers, chocolate, and whatever else they had. There are even reports of enemy soldiers trading spare guns for soccer balls and other items.

  With such an informal truce in place, soldiers first buried the decomposing corpses of their fallen comrades. There are several accounts of combatants helping each other bury their dead and holding joint Christian burial services. Then, for the next week, the two sides enjoyed the Christmas season together. Soldiers played soccer. They shared family photos. Where the language barrier could be overcome, friendships were formed; many Germans had gone to school or worked in Britain before the war. There are accounts of certain combatants laughing hysterically -- possibly inebriated -- as they lay on the ground together at night and used their pistols to shoot at stars rather than at each other.

  Unfortunately, when word of the truce got back to the generals on both sides, they were furious. Orders were issued to resume fighting immediately. On January 1, 1915, the killing picked up where it had left off a week earlier. It wouldn’t end until another eight million lives had been wasted.

  Whatever wars you are a part of, may you embrace the arrival of the God Who Is With Us and in so doing discover that through him there is peace. In Christ love abounds and hate is destroyed. May the violence within your families and self be silenced as goodwill takes over. Merry Christmas and thank God.

  What wars are you battling?  Do you have any encouraging words for those who are experiencing struggles during this holiday season?
  

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