December global holidays: Finding the missing peace on Earth

The Significance of December Holidays

It has been my good fortune to travel the world as a musician for more than 50 years. I have had a chance to share music in many cultures during the month of December.

Whether it's Thailand, India, or Japan, where I’ve spent the last month of the year singing more than once—or celebrating New Years in South Korea and Taiwan as I have done on occasion.

What I found to be universal in all these places at this time of year is a desire for real peace, a renewed promise of peace. A time when the world is looking for peace makers. A time to wish for peace on earth. To achieve a powerful series of changes. To find the Missing Peace. 

Acknowledging global celebrations

A special event in December in India can look different from one back home. A true storytelling event in Taipei the last day of the year may appear odd and unfamiliar. Yet, looking more carefully, one begins to notice similarities.

Instead of looking for differences, we can start noticing similarities in this big family tree—the love of community, a yearning for family, the joy of music, the happiness that gathering around food brings. True peace can be found in these simple universal pleasures.

Promoting real peace through music

Music, in many ways, is a universal language. When the Brothers Four sing “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” at the DMZ in South Korea, the promise of peace feels somehow very real. A sense of peace is genuine, though many of those listening may understand only a few of the words. A dream of peace is universal.

Einstein told us that imagination is more important than knowledge. Singing “We Shall Live in Peace” with people worldwide makes it easier to imagine. Maybe earth peace isn't just a fairytale. Maybe the peace makers can still achieve their goals—and music will be there when it finally happens.

Looking for internal peace

There is a lot being written these days about how angry we are at each other and our institutions. I’s becoming normal to express grievance while being slow to offer or extend grace.

For me, that can feel like an absence of peace in hearts and minds. My hope is that this time of year can inspire us to seek real peace, that we can enter the New Year finding once more, in each other and ourselves, the Missing Peace.

Coming together with family 

Because I’ve often been performing during the holidays, our family has had to learn to celebrate Christmas and New Years when we can be together rather than on one particular day. To turn any day into a special event, no matter what the calendar may say. 

There is a sense of peace that comes in celebrating with family, no matter the date or day. No matter the hardships or struggles, family creates a sort of heart peace that guides us through the darkest of moments. When all else fails, our family is still there.

Continuing the conversation year-round

Along with continuing to write and record new songs, at this point in my career, I am curating and sharing a lifetime of songs and stories at markpearsonmusic.com. 

Even in the darkest of times, I continue to believe we are more alike than different, that we are all in this together, and that we can find each other in our songs and stories. I continue to believe that peace in its many forms can be achieved.

The Missing Peace was written for my stepdaughter 40 years ago. The wishes in it for you and the world we share feel as relevant now as they were then.

May the promise of peace—as well as the sense of peace—grow and become real peace for you and yours. 

May we, together, find the MISSING PEACE.

Here is a studio recording of the Missing Peace accompanied by a photograph by Elston Hill—may its message resonate deeply!