James 3:18 “Peacemakers
who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
What does it
mean to “sow in peace”? I see it in police officers that show up at domestic
disputes and have the skill to calm people down who are out of their minds in
anger. I hear it in the voice of a 911 dispatcher who assures the driver
injured in a traffic collision that help is on the way. It is the ability of a
correctional officer to talk down a drunk who wants to pick a fight at jail. It
is apparent in criminal justice managers and executives who take time to
consider the impacts of policy decisions before they implement them. Sowing
in peace is thinking before you act; listening, watching body language and connecting
with people. Scripture gives us the roadmap:
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things
there is no law.”
Proverbs 10:19 “Sin is not ended by
multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.”
James 1:19 “My
dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to
listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because
human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but
is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should
reach repentance.”
The practical application of this
is The 10 Rule of Decision Making; take time to think, consider what is going
on around you and seek guidance through counsel, training and prayer. The amount of time you have is entirely
dependent on the circumstances. Generally (and using a law enforcement rank
structure) I figure that police officers have about 10 seconds to make
decisions, police sergeants have 10 minutes, lieutenants get 10 hours, commanders
get 10 days and police chiefs get 10 weeks. The point is that the higher go in
an organization, the longer your decision making process can take. I believe
that the same is true in parenting, leadership, and living the Christian life.
Maturity and experience bring with it a responsibility to master patience.
But wait! There’s more! How long
does it take to master a skill? The “experts” suggests it takes 10,000 hours. Based
on a 40 hour work week, it takes 4.8 years to become proficient. George
MacDonald, a predecessor and theologian of significance in the life of C.S.
Lewis, wrote that it is better to watch corn grow than to experience a miracle.
He said that God has already created everything and we have the privilege to
discover it. Philippians 4: 6-7 adds this, “Do not be anxious
about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus.”
