Column CEO: Peace is… a small gesture

Written by: Agnes Kroese, CEO of Dorcas

During the Christmas season, we often talk at length about peace. But when I reflect on the year 2024, peace seems hard to find. I think, for instance, of Ukraine and the Middle East. Images of bombed-out homes come to mind, of people who have lost everything: possessions, but also loved ones. Images of children, filled with fear and despair because they had to flee for safety. And I haven’t even mentioned the many forgotten crises that barely make the news, such as the conflict in Sudan. Nowhere in the world have so many people been displaced from their homes and communities.

In a world where conflict, poverty and crisis seem to overshadow everything, peace feels further away than ever. And yet. It is precisely at Christmas that we remember how, in the midst of brokenness, God began something new. At the time of Jesus’ birth, peace on earth also seemed a distant hope. And yet God began something new in the form of a small and vulnerable Child.

‘There’s a crack in everything, that’s where the light comes in’. This line from Leonard Cohen song captures the Christmas message for me. Through brokenness, light can shine – a glimmer of hope that makes life more bearable and gives us a new perspective.

In my work with Dorcas, I see time and time again that this glimmer begins with attention. Attention that can be offered even in the midst of conflict and chaos. What makes us feel hopeless is the idea that peace only comes when a conflict ends. On a literal level, of course, that’s true. But the harsh reality is that here in the Netherlands we can rarely influence the end of conflict. What we can do is offer support, give hope and bring a little peace to the hearts of those in need.

For me, peace is so much more than the absence of bombs and the sound of gunfire. True peace starts with a small gesture. Like handing out a blanket to keep someone warm on a cold night. Offering a listening ear to someone who feels lonely. Offering a plate of food when hunger is looming.

When I look at the statistics on poverty, inequality and global crises, I get sad. It seems so hopeless. But I believe in the power of small gestures. Just like the Child of Bethlehem, who began as a vulnerable baby in a manger, but who holds the world in His hands. ‘For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’

The peace He gives, in every sense of the word, is what I wish for you this season.

Agnes Kroes is CEO of Dorcas. Agnes: ‘I contribute with great dedication to our mission in creating opportunities for people and communities to flourish. One of the ways I do this is through a monthly column in Dutch newspaper Nederlands Dagblad. In this column, I share insights from my professional experience at Dorcas. My aim is to inspire, inform and encourage readers to engage with Dorcas’ initiatives, campaigns, and projects.‘

21 December 2024