PEACE: Inner, Positive Quality

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, August 6, 2016

PEACE: Inner, Positive Quality

This post includes a second definition of PEACE. But, before we get to that, I need to give a little background. Several people from Morton Grove traveled down to Chicago on Wednesday to participate in a dinner outreach called Give Them a Meal. Run by Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK), this is a tremendous opportunity to give back what God shows to us: love and grace.

While there on the south side of Chicago, I asked one of the Mothers Against Senseless Killing for her personal definition of PEACE. Everloyce’s personal definition: “PEACE is an inner quality that is expressed in positive ways on the outside.”

Absolutely marvelous, I told Everloyce. Since she has obviously given the matter much thought, I asked her to elaborate on that explanation. She said, “PEACE is something that you feel intuitively. My mother said, ‘Still water runs deep, but it’s hell at the bottom.’ In other words, you can look at the calmest person, but it’s all turmoil inside.

“Unbelievable. You think, just like on the outside, everything is calm. But on the inside, it is pain, rage, sadness. The full range of emotions.” As I checked further, I ran into people who were so emotionally invested in this question, and it is powerful. Thank you, Everloyce.

Let’s pray. Gracious God, we pray for the catechism that is coming to those young people. For freedom of expression and passage. Dear Lord, we pray for the Mothers Against Senseless Killing. Bless their outreaches, including Give Them a Meal. Give all those in the Englewood area Your peace, Your peace that passes human understanding. And, bring about a lasting peace that is expressed in positive ways, dear God.  In Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: Loving Everyone

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, August 4, 2016

 

PEACE: Loving Everyone

Yesterday afternoon, I accompanied several people to the south side of Chicago. My friend, Laura, had been in touch with a mothers’ group called Mothers Against Senseless Killing (MASK). This group has a free meal outreach called Give Them a Meal. (Wonderful idea! It’s been done many times before, in different places. Yet, it still is quite effective!)

Anyway, the four of us went to the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago from the northwest suburb of Morton Grove. Yes, it was hot. And sunny. Hovering around 90 degrees. Good thing there were some trees shading most of the street corner. (Not completely, however.) It did not seem to matter to these faithful people. What a wonderful opportunity for people to come together, to share, to have fellowship and make community.

Mama Knight is a firecracker of a senior. Petite, walking with assistance, still she keeps a sharp eye on that corner and does what she can to help this free meal outreach to continue. We went to her house at first, and unloaded all the supplies we had brought. We didn’t waste any time, but set up everything so that the free meal could be offered to anyone who came up to the corner.

Remembering my Pursuing Peace Project, I asked Mama Knight what her personal definition of PEACE was. Mama Knight’s personal definition: “Peace is loving everyone.”

That was only the start of it! She went on to say, “Peace is where everyone is loving and gets together. Peace is what makes you feel happy. I do not forget to thank God. Without Him, I could not make it. At 91, I thank God for my health and my right mind.”

God bless dear Mama Knight! What a marvelous definition. She is respected and loved by so many in that neighborhood. She has such sincerity and love in her own heart, she radiates it forth. Anyone who knows her and talks with her can witness to her generosity of spirit.

Dear God, bless this meal outreach. Bless the faithful volunteers who continue to come out, day after day, week after week. And, we pray PEACE may come into the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. Stop the senseless killing, we earnestly pray. Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er