Find love, joy and peace this holiday season

Editor’s Note: letter in response to the “Reflections: If there is peace on earth, it must be hiding under a rock” opinion column by columnist Mike Zielinski (printed Dec. 11 in Tri County Record and Dec. 6 in Berks-Mont Newspapers).

Dear Editor: Sincere condolences, but also true hope, to those experiencing negative emotions this holiday season. The origin of the love, joy and peace we hear about is typically left out. We were made with a free will, in the likeness of our Maker. He is love; he knows our needs, prepaid our answers, yet honors our free will by letting us decide to love him back or not. Choosing faith in God allows two-way intimacy with him; denying faith in God makes him unknowable. Hence, God is closer than a brother to believers, and foolishness to unbelievers.

In our needy world, there remains peace that passes human understanding that guards our hearts and minds, just as the bible says. Skeptics mock this as false hope, due to their self-blockage of it. Negativity, pessimism and depression never leave the hopeless. Religiosity humanistically counterfeits dynamic relationship with God. Humility to trust God and love him back with our lifestyle is all he wants. We relentlessly offer it to others because the truth sets us free, and all are welcome to it. Peace to you… actually.

Loren Falzone is a Chester County resident, a Coatesville missionary with Youth With A Mission, and author of “Intimate Anatomy, A Workbook for Building Intimacy.”