It has been said that peace is harder to
make than war, and in 1914, when the world
sought peace, instead it found itself in the
first world war - a war so devastating that
it came to be known as "The War to end all
Wars". But what happens when in the middle
of a war, the soldiers just quit fighting?
Of all the war stories I've ever read or
hear, this Christmas story is surely the
most amazing.
In December of 1914 World War I was still
only getting started. But already it had
claimed hundreds of thousands of killed,
wounded, missing. As Christmas approached,
an appeal came from Pope Benedict to cease
firing - but the killing continued.
On the front line, hundreds of thousands of
soldiers from many countries had taken their
positions, dug their trenches, and in
between the two armies lay a no man's land
that stretched across almost the entire
border between Belgium and France. There
would be no Christmas truce; instead there
would be only death and devastation.
As the cold rain fell, soaking the soldiers
to the bone, it caused a sort of river in
that no man's land that separated the two
armies - and the dead bodies in the middle
began to float to either side.
But then, as the night fell that Christmas
Eve, it happened - there was silence, pure
silence - and the soldiers entrenched on
each side began to ponder just what this
night was, the Eve of Christmas, the Birth
of our Savior, The Prince of Peace.
Then, the silence was broken - not by
gunfire, but by the sound of voices, German
voices, singing a song familiar in tune -
but the words were foreign. All who heard
knew the song, "Silent Night". The words
were compelling, so compelling that up and
down the battle lines, unbelievably, hand
made signs began to pop up, signs made of
scraps of board and paper, "Merry
Christmas", "You no fight, we no fight".
As a group of Belgium soldiers cautiously
popped their heads out of their trench to
read the signs, what they saw was surely not
possible - German soldiers coming out of the
safety of their trenches, laying down their
weapons, walking toward their enemy, in full
view, shouting "comrade". The Belgium
soldiers were shocked and puzzled, but
miraculously they too laid down their
weapons.
All of that Christmas Eve night, as the word
spread up and down the battle line, soldiers
from both sides put down tneir weapons, came
out of the safety of their trenches, and met
together in that deadly no man's land where
bodies from both sides lay dead. If pictures
had not been taken, surely no one today
would believe that it really happened.
As daylight came on Christmas Day, this
amazing Christmas truce became even more
amazing - soldiers began to exchange food
and trinkets, each side even worked together
to help bury the dead. It was truly a sight
you'd think you would never see anywhere
this side of Heaven, but it was happening.
For that entire Christmas day the dream
continued. As word came to the higher
command of each side that soldiers had laid
down their weapons and refused to fight,
they ordered the men to fire - but they
would not.
And then, just as unexplainably as the truce
had all begun - it just ended. Soldiers
began to make their way back to their
trenches. And to make sure that this did
not, somehow, happen again, fresh troops
were sent on the front line by the higher
commands - after all, this was war.
That World War I went on for four more
years. Many who had participated in that
Christmas truce were killed in battle and
never made it home. Sadly that war, that
"War to end all wars" did not end all wars -
and the world continues to fight even today.
But here's the question - "Is true peace
possible, or is it absurd? And just which is
more absurd - peace or war?"
Sadly, we all pray for peace, but as long as
some make wars, others must fight to stop
wars.
One soldier that was there that Christmas,
1914, wrote these words:
“O Ye who read this truthful rhyme
from Flanders, kneel and pray,
God speed the time when every day is seen as
Christmas Day".
Do you want peace amidst all of the turmoil
and difficulties of your life? Look to the
Christ child of Christmas - He is the Prince
of Peace - He will give you true peace.
Merry Christmas!
May God Bless America
Jerry Stewart
P.S. email me with your own thoughts and ideas
regarding our America at
stewartreport@onemomentinamerica.com
JS
