Learning to be peacemakers in the world

I was scrolling through Facebook the other day and came across a message from a minister in South Carolina that I enjoy listing to on occasion.

His topic that day was being a peacemaker.

Hearing the word peacemaker reminded me of time more than 30 years ago while I was attending classes and working nights at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

I worked the evening shift on the campus custodian crew. In the early going, I was a fill-in custodian for when someone was on vacation or had taken a night off. I also did extra deep cleaning in the various offices and classrooms when time permitted.

It was a Friday evening, and I was working in the basement of Jesse Hall, the main administration building on campus.

There was a young man that was hired to mop and wax floors. In addition, there were three custodians in that building that evening, including myself.

Apparently, this young man had left a mop, bucket and broom or some other equipment in the hallway the evening before. It was in plain sight during the day.

We had storage areas for our cleaning equipment. With the equipment being left out, it didn’t look good for the custodian department.

When the full-time custodian arrived at work, she and this young man got into it. The full-time custodian was upset that this cleaning equipment was not put away.

They got into a shouting match on the second floor of the building. It was so loud that I could hear it in the basement.

And to make things worse, it was 4:30 in the afternoon, and there were still people in the building.

It just happened that the boss man had taken off that evening. The full-timer threatened to call the boss, and that led to the young man coming to the basement.

Without going into detail, the young man was obviously upset at what was going on and was making some statements that scared me as he was threatening himself and others.

After listening for a moment, I took a bold step and decided to ask this young man to come sit down with me. He was still upset, and I admit I was scared.

He said there were easier ways to make money and that he didn’t need to put up with this job.

I told the young man that he was loved and that life didn’t have to be this way. I then asked him if he would like a Coke, and he said yes.

I didn’t know if I had enough change, but when I reached into my pocket, the change I needed was there.

I bought two Cokes and gave him one while I sipped on the other.

We talked a while longer, and then I mentioned to him that the boss was coming. I suggested that he be working when the boss got there.

He agreed and starting mopping the floors in the basement break room.

The boss showed up a few moments later, and he and this young man left the building. I don’t know if he was moved to a different building or the final outcome of the situation.

A few days later, I was called into the office of the director who oversaw the campus facility department.

As I sat across from the director, I was asked to share my side of the story. It was protocol anytime an employee issue arose.

When I finished, the director called me a peacemaker.

That touched my heart.

I still take that title to heart these days.

Right in the middle of a heated situation, I stepped in, and I believe I made a difference. I don’t know what happened to the young man or the others involved. If they haven’t yet, my prayer for him and others is that they find peace.

We need peace in our world. We need to learn to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. As my minister friend said, we don’t have agree with each other, we just need to put our differences side and live in peace.

We can learn to get along and still disagree.

That is my prayer in the New Year for my family, my friends, my neighbors, those I do business with and even strangers on the street.

I encourage you to be peacemakers in the lives of those around you.

I appreciate all the support I have received through the years and into the future, and I pray that I have made a difference in the lives of those who read my work.

Happy New Year!

Have a great week, and always remember that “Good Things are Happening” every day.