I just returned from a vacation with the family, (many thanks to those who covered this last Sunday for me), on which we spent a day at Disney Land. There is a famous ride called “It’s a Small World”, with an infamous song repeating non stop through the whole experience. Some experience this ride as a fun boat ride with every new room offering a new visual appeal with dolls dressed up in costumes from all over the world. The anticipation of trying find your favorite dolls or characters offers great pleasure and nostalgia. For others, the experience is the heavy price you pay to see your loved ones full of joy as you try and block out the same song which is on loop…the whole ride. Some anticipate the journey, others the end. As our boat exited the ride, there was a huge lighted sign that read, “Peace on earth”. My initial response was, “yes, once I get off this ride”, but it also struck me as something everyone wants, yet we never seem to achieve. The ride is supposed to show how all over the world we are all basically the same, only separated by cultural differences like dress, humans in the struggle for joy and peace. Why is it so elusive? What stories have we bought into which promise us peace? The Christian story is that we had peace, lost it in our disobedience to God, yet have been given peace in the Son of God, and we also look forward to it when He comes again. It has come and is still yet to come. This got me thinking about advent.

Ben Melli