Scripture: Isaiah 2:1-5; 7:14; 11:1-10 and Matthew 1:18-25 Is the vision for Peace on Earth that Isaiah describes in 2:1-5; 7:14; 11:1-10 realistic? Is it "pie in the sky" or a "pipe dream"? Has God seen enough evidence of violent humanity to say: "There's no way people will trade their Glocks for gardening gloves. There's no way Christians, Jews and Muslims will ever sit at a table together much less stop killing each other." Or has God's impossible dream of peace on earth become possible because of "Emmanuel" - God with us. God has moved close to us, our warring hearts and war-torn world through Jesus. Not every peace making gesture Jesus made was received well. He was rejected, suffered and was ultimately executed. His followers can expect the same. But knowing the end of the story - resurrection - gives us hope that every peace making gesture in Jesus name, whether it seems "successful" or not, is movement toward God's dream of peace on earth. And because peace on earth is God's dream, we trust it will be so. So, our challenge as peace makers is to move closer to others who we might prefer to ignore or avoid with Jesus' posture of vulnerability, seeking first to understand before being understood. Who is God leading you to move closer to in order to understand their story. Listen to understand rather than critique, correct or be understood. Know that this is a sharing in the Divine move closer to peace on earth.