Peace in a Taxi Cab

People are fascinating - and among the most down to earth and diverse group of people seems to be those who drive taxi cabs. Accordingly, every time I travel for business I look forward to talking with my different drivers.

This past week I was in Dallas for a conference. On my way back to the airport I was driven back by an Iraqi. I have many times been driven by Iraqi's and am always fascinated by our conversations. This particular driver was a fairly young man who loved Dallas and was grateful for the peace he enjoyed there. He said he wished that all the world could be as peaceful as his world was in Dallas. He had lost many friends and family in this most recent war and I could tell he felt a great loss for them - not only because they were gone, but because they were killed in acts of senseless murder. He knew war better than most and had no misconceptions of glory.

As our conversation continued, I noted that it was also the day of the Israeli-Palestinian peace conference and uttered some words of hopeless wishes that peace may some day be found in that region. My driver replied, "We all believe in God. Why can't we get along and find peace?!"

His response was so welcome to me. I feel the same as he does and agreed whole heartedly.

We talked some more about the turmoil that whole region is going through and the sadness and pain caused by war. He asked, "When will there finally be an end to war?"

Pondering on that question I thought back to the comments I have many time heard from friends, colleagues and others in the media. I told him, "Many people in this country feel that religion is actually the cause of these wars. They therefore feel the best way to do away with these wars is to also do away with religion."

I continued, "I, however, disagree with that. I believe that the only way to do away with these wars is Religion. The only way to bring peace on earth is for each one of us to truly love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Only then will there be true peace on earth."

After a moment of silence my driver responded, "I totally agree with you."

In a world of bombs and hate, he and I had peace - an Iraqi Muslim and an American Christian - in a cab on our way to the airport because both of us understood that principle. We both recommend it to all.

Matthew 5:

38 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An ^aeye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:

39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not ^aevil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ^bcheek, ^cturn to him the other also.

40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

42 ^aGive to him that asketh thee, and from him that would ^bborrow of thee turn not thou away.

43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt ^alove thy ^bneighbour, and hate thine enemy.

44 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that ^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

48 ^aBe ye therefore ^bperfect, even as your ^cFather which is in heaven is ^dperfect.