A Word from Wendy: Peace
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. … Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” – Jesus [John 14:27]
“Let There be Peace on Earth” was one of the hymns that rose to the top this summer as you shared your favorites. As we sang it in worship, I closed my eyes to better soak in the words and melody and it became a prayer. We yearn for peace, and yet … there is chaos. There is conflict.
A recent conversation was with a young adult with lots of energy who likes to keep busy. They made the observation that if they slowed down, all they saw was chaos around them. So, their choice was then to go only faster, thus fleeing the chaos.
Another conversation was with someone who reacted in an uncharacteristic, negative way in a public setting. They were regretful and trying to understand why they had done it. They were frustrated with the chaotic, conflicting information swirling around them and reacted by fighting back.
And, then there are the “conversations” where one person is dominating the interaction and the other person is a silent recipient, unable to flee, unwanting to fight, but frozen in response.
Fight, flee (flight), or freeze. These are our “natural” reactions to conflict and chaos, and serve us well in dangerous situations. But, is all conflict and chaos dangerous?
Conflict and chaos are also “natural” – a part of God’s creation, an integral part of the story of God and God’s people in scripture. The chaos and conflict in scripture are sometimes literal and sometimes metaphorical; for example, the Hebrew people understood water and wilderness to represent chaos.
In the Old Testament, God created out of the chaos of nothingness; Moses parted the sea (chaos) so the people could leave Egypt; then Moses led them for 40 years in the wilderness (chaos) as they learned to be the people who could enter the Promised Land; later generations were exiled to Babylon, a wilderness, until Jerusalem was rebuilt and they returned home. In the New Testament, Jesus was baptized in Jordan river; Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness at the beginning of his public ministry; Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm on the Seas of Galilee; Jesus rode into the conflict of his final Passover on a donkey; … and ultimately, Jesus was resurrected from death, the definitive conflict/chaos.
Scripture gives us story after story of chaos and conflict being the fertile ground from which new life emerges, the canvas on which God creates new possibilities. Chaos is the opportunity for God to do God’s best work.
Thinking back on my own life, when everything was going well and I was happy and contented, those were the times I was least likely to be receptive to a new thing God was trying to do in or through me. (And yes, there are scripture stories about that too; check out the book of Judges.)
So, does this conflict-avoider now love conflict? Nope. No way. But God has shown me that I do not need to be afraid. Jesus bids me to keep focused on him as we walk together through it. The Spirit reminds me, moment by moment, to breathe and to pray …
As we journey this unique time together, may this be our prayer: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me; let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God, our creator, children all are we. Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now. With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow: to take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally. Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Wendy