Peacemaker

I remember once trying to bring peace to a quarrel when I was 15 doing a summer study-abroad in Salzurg, Austria. Several of us young guys were feeling our oats, out on the town having fun. To make things worse, some had just bought knives.

You can imagine what came next.

Two of the older guys were drinking. I guess they couldn't hold their beer. The next thing I know they were squared off outside the beer hall, blades in hand making exaggerated swipes as if they were trying to kill each other.

They were both friends. Of course I couldn't stand by and watch them hurt themselves. So I tried to stop it.

But an unexpected thing happened. Rather than keep fighting each other, they turned on me. Unarmed. And scared stupid. I quickly beat a retreat and left them to their own devices.

Needless to say, I've had a history of jumping into other people's battles. And more often than not, one or both would inevitably turn their wrath against me, even though I was just trying to bring peace to a bad situation.

I guess I haven't learned my lesson, because I'm still doing it, but just on a bigger scale now.

People don't have to fight to solve their disagreements. They don't even have to disagree.

I'm trying to show them another way. Perhaps one day enough of them will listen to make a difference in our world.