Pastor: Richard Hurd
The Mid-Week Message is an On-Line Ministry
Of Pastor Dick Hurd and the “Caton Church”
A Global Methodist community of Faith June 3, 2026
I was just asked to move my car because I was apparently parked in someone else’s spot. So, I kind of challenged myself to create a midweek message from a misappropriated parking spot. This could be interesting!
In our world today a small misunderstanding like this could result in an angry confrontation, even a violent one. However, we as followers of the prince of peace are called to be better than that. We are called to be ambassadors of peace in His name.
A well-beloved hymn reminds us “Let peace begin with me.” When someone cuts you off in traffic, does peace begin with you? When that rude lady in Walmart grabs the last item that you wanted, on black Friday, does peace begin with you then?
Our lives are filled with opportunities to choose either peace or conflict and often our immediate reaction reveals more about us that we would like to admit. I recently saw a demonstration where a man was squeezing an orange while asking what will come out as I squeeze this orange? Will it be apple juice, grape juice, or some other kind of juice. Obviously, it will be orange juice because under pressure what comes out will be what is contained within. That is true for that orange and true for us as well.
When we are provoked, how we respond or what comes out of us will be according to what lies within us. Hopefully it would be love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, also known as the fruit of the spirit. But if the spirit of Christ is not in us, the result of that pressure and provocation might be bitterness, anger, or a host of other not-so-desirable responses, and peace will not begin with you or me.
I hurried and moved my car and there was no one there to confront me for my mistake, but if there were, I pray that I might have had the wisdom to be the peace of Christ in that moment, and in that life! May we all be the peace of Christ in the lives we touch every day.
Yours in the love of Christ,
Pastor Dick
Breath Prayer: Lord, Let peace begin with me today. Amen
