On December 7, 2024, I’ll light another of my Advent candles- the Peace candle. Traditionally speaking, The second Sunday of Advent is the day to light the Peace candle, and during 2024, that day is December 7. In this post, I’ll begin to unwrap the meaning of Peace and I’ll list ways that I hope to improve the peacefulness in my life during this Advent season.

Peace Like A River

When I was a child at camp, m favorite campfire song began as follows:

“Peace, I ask of thee, O River,
Peace, Peace, Peace.
When I learn to live serenely,
Cares will cease.
From the hills, I gather courage,
Visions of the days to be,
Strength to live and Faith to follow,
All are given unto me.
Peace I ask of thee, O River,
Peace, Peace, Peace”

As a child, I would sit at a campfire circle just at dusk–just as the whippoorwills began to call, just as the sun was setting behind the pine trees on the other shore, and just as the wind had begun to settle. The waves on the lake behind the campfire had begun gently rocking toward the rocky shore, and I understood the meaning of Peace. Likewise as a child, I had an understanding of a lack of peace.

It doesn’t take a sophistical adult mind to understand the meaning of peace. Peace is a lack the things that disrupt our spirits–that disrupt the calmness within our lives.