via Brainpickings

Yesterday we drove by the battlefield of Verdun, site of one the most devastating fights in the history of warfare. Surprisingly, World War I was also a place of amazing humanity. As Maria Popova wrote:

“In December of 1914, a series of grassroots, unofficial ceasefires took hold of the Western Front in the heat of WWI. On Christmas, British and German soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and sing songs across the trenches, some even walked over to their opponents bearing gifts. The incident became one of the most heart-warming displays of humanity in the history of human conflict and was dubbed the Christmas Truce.

This lovely short film captures the story and spirit of this symbolic moment of peace, grace and humility amidst one of modernity’s most violent and disgraceful events.”

That’s what Christmas is about: Even in the darkest hours, there’s a light in all of us. We just have to discover and live it.

Yesterday we drove by the battlefield of Verdun, site of one the most devastating fights in the history of warfare. Surprisingly, World War I was also a place of amazing humanity. As Maria Popova wrote: