“Peace through Understanding” (06/10/2025)

The summer of 1965 will forever be in my memory; it was the summer I attended the World’s Fair in New York. Its theme was “Peace through Understanding.” My parents took my older sister, Betty, who had graduated from high school that year and me. It was part of her graduation present. I’m not sure why I got to go; perhaps it was to give the car balance with 2 people up front and two in back. I won’t waste time speculating on that. I’d rather spend time sharing what I learned.

The grounds of the World’s Fair were phenomenal. There was so much to see. The buildings and exhibits were breathtaking, but my favorite part, honestly, was watching the people. People from every corner of our globe were present. My mother and sister were flitters. They wanted to go inside everything. My dad and I were more stationary. We’d find a food vendor, grab a bite, then find a bench with a great view, plant ourselves and watch for a while. We ate some pretty amazing creations from around the world that week, and we saw people from every continent, race, and creed. The diversity was amazing.

About the 3rd day, I began to realize that taking in and appreciating diversity was the whole point. “Peace through Understanding” was the theme of the fair. Immersed in the well of diversity with sights, sounds, scents, and savory snacks, one began to more fully comprehend not only the diversity of our global community but that each of us is truly unique. And this “worldly” adventure brought me closer to my heavenly Father as I recognized Him in everyone – different but alike. Our appearances, our customs, our tastes were different, but we all shared a common origin and a final destination. And in all those times and all those places, we all shared a loving and present LORD.

To this day, when I witness hostilities between groups of people, when I see wars between nations, when I see violence in our streets, my mind goes back to that summer and the lessons I learned. How I wish we could revisit that theme and its hope as the world – “Peace through Understanding.”  I know it is the LORD’s desire that we love one another regardless of appearance or address.

As we go forward this day on our spiritual journeys, let us open ourselves to others we meet along the way, let us seek to cooperate with the Spirit’s gifts and truly see the others as who they are – children of one LORD – our sisters and brothers. Maybe if we can remember who we are and what we share, how we are different will matter less.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.