BANG BANG BOOM BOOM

It’s always a busy time of year.  As the Christmas season begins, the pilgrims stream through Ixtapaluca on their way to the Roman Catholic basilica, hoping to gain salvation and other favours from the Virgin of Guadalupe.  There are fireworks and parties and masses and traffic.

There isn’t a lot of peace – especially this year, especially here.

As I mentioned before, there has been construction going on on the other side of the duplex.  BANG BANG BANG – Hannah said they must be making a wall of nails! 😉

And there have been parties on several nights – honestly an unusual thing here.  Now at this time there does tend to be more noise, as the “bombas” go off in order to get the Virgin’s attention.

But last night the street next to us tried to outdo them all – loud music, laughing, yelling – all through the night.

I’m sure the BANG BANG BANG of hammers and BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ of drills during the day and the BOOM BOOM BOOM of music in the night is affecting us more than we think.  Pass the Coca-Cola.

Last night I had a Bible study with some friends.  They had just had their car stolen – yesterday morning.  I’m sure they would appreciate your prayers.  (They’ve given the car up as lost – it’s not worth the time, paperwork and expense to – well, to not get it back anyway)

While we were having our study, a neighbour knocked.  Her youngest (adult) son had just died the day before.  She now has one son left out of three.  She’s not a believer, and she says that she speaks with her sons every day.

No, there’s not a lot of peace.  Of course, we shouldn’t expect it.  What was it that Jesus said?  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Yes, the world’s peace is temporary, if it exists at all.

In fact, this isn’t even a feeling of peace in our hearts – that comes and goes too, doesn’t it?  It’s not our peace, it’s His.  It’s the security and love and hope that we have in the Spirit (even when we may not feel it).  And because of that – Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

So the morning after the night before there was a peaceful sunrise.  It only lasted a few moments – a reminder that everything in this world is temporary – the good and the bad – and the better will come.