Reykjavik Summit

In August 2016, I visited the Höfđi House historic site in Reykjavik, Iceland. In the yard in front of the house, visitors can see a granite stone with the inscription, “In this historic house on 11–12 October 1986, the Reykjavik Summit meeting of the Super-powers took place between Ronald Reagan, President of the United States of America, and Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

This Summit meeting is regarded as heralding the beginning of the end of the Cold War.” Much of the discussion centered on proposals for both sides to eliminate ballistic missiles. But the talks collapsed at the last minute due to the lack of agreement on some of the details. Reagan asked Gorbachev if he would “turn down a historic opportunity because of a single word” in regard to laboratory testing.

Despite its apparent failure, that summit represented a breakthrough in the process that culminated in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, signed at the Washington Summit on December 8, 1987.

Many nations, tribes, and people still abide by the old Latin adage, “Si vis pacem, para bellum” (If you want peace, prepare for war).

Unfortunately, this adage paved the way for World War I and perpetuated the Cold War. As Reagan and Gorbachev dialogued together in Reykjavik to end the Cold War, so we should be peacemakers helping end conflicts and tensions between nations, tribes, families, and friends. But to be a peacemaker, you need to be at peace with God and with yourself. Peace must become your lifestyle —thinking peaceful thoughts, saying peaceful words, and doing peaceful actions. Your best efforts may fail, and your best intentions may be misunderstood, leaving you deeply frustrated.

Nevertheless, a seemingly wasted seed of peace may end up germinating and producing unexpected fruit, as in the case of the Reykjavik Summit.

If it doesn’t happen, at least you are at peace with yourself and with your conscience, and, as Jesus said, you will be called a child of God (Matthew 5:9).

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).