PEACE, Best Achieved Alongside of Justice (Repost)

This repost is a wonderful reminder that PEACE is multi-faceted. God, help us all to #PursuePEACE in whatever way we are able.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Monday, February 29, 2016

 

PEACE, Best Achieved Alongside of Justice

As I continue to ask people for their personal definition of PEACE, I am intrigued by the ones who have to think hard about the word or phrase they choose. Sometimes, taking a good deal of time for the answer. I am equally interested in the ones who immediately know what their definition is going to be.

Continuing the listening tour. I am traveling around in my efforts to pursue PEACE.

My friend and colleague from St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Joe McInnis, invited me to attend the church he pastors, in Wilmette, Illinois. One of his parishioners knew immediately what his personal definition was, and he told me so!

An older man of definite ideas and opinions, his name is Peter Knobel. He told me PEACE is best achieved alongside of justice.

I told him how deep that point of view was! I asked him to elaborate. He said, “People sometimes associate peace with power and victory. A different vector of peace is alongside of justice. Like in South Africa, where for years they had a reconciliation and peace movement.” Peter considers peace and justice as closely connected. In his view, peace is best achieved using just and equitable means.

Peter’s words inspired me to think deeply. Yes, peace is an important concept. Yet, peace is out of reach for many people, throughout the world, especially in places of dissention, fighting and outright warfare. When Peter mentioned South Africa, I remembered several personal accounts I both read and heard of the troubles in South Africa.

Many people did not experience peace. Many people had horrible things happen to them, to their relatives and comrades, and to their homes and all they held dear. We cannot just wallpaper over those horrible, gut-wrenching, intensely agonizing events.

Yes, hurting people hurt people. Yes, hurting people need to be offered the place and the space to express that hurt, that pain, that anguish, that anger. And, yes. Hurting people can travel through their pain, through the muck and the mire, and come out the other side. Hurting people can journey the path of victim—through the possibility of justice, and out on the other side. They can identify as survivors. Finally—they can start that journey towards peace. Peacefulness. All because of justice.

@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.   @chaplaineliza  And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

Pray for a World Emancipated from Violence

A repost of this, from early February. Lord, hear all of our prayers!

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

Pray for a World Emancipated from Violence

Imagine a world of peace. That was what our prayer from The Oxford Book of Prayer spoke of today.

Good overcoming evil? Good triumphing over the evil perpetrated by individuals, as well as angry mobs, or fearsome armies? Oh, to live in such a wonderful place. To be able to trust people openly, on a regular basis! That would be an amazing experience.

Love overcoming hatred? When I think of all of the twisted ways in which one group of people hates another, I feel physically ill. I watched an older television program—a science fiction show, with aliens, where one alien race hated the guts of another alien race. And, how could this be alleviated, much less eradicated?

And, then, to have a world emancipated from violence? Violence, horror, despicable behavior of every imaginable kind? The thought of this causes me to tremble. Tremble with fear and deep sorrow, because I am afraid it will never, ever happen while this earth exists.

Yes, this prayer asks God for such things as no more fear, no more injustice. This prayer wishes to have selfishness evaporate, along with the suffering that accompanies it. [1]

Dear Lord, this prayer for World Peace zeros in on so many worthwhile requests. Please, gracious God, bring more peace, more harmony. Lower anxiety and fear. Help individuals and groups all over the world to live together, converse together, eat together. And, not kill each other. Gracious, peace-loving God, hear us, we pray.

@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.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 78-79.

Pray for a World Emancipated from Violence

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

Pray for a World Emancipated from Violence

Imagine a world of peace. That was what our prayer from The Oxford Book of Prayer spoke of today.

Good overcoming evil? Good triumphing over the evil perpetrated by individuals, as well as angry mobs, or fearsome armies? Oh, to live in such a wonderful place. To be able to trust people openly, on a regular basis! That would be an amazing experience.

Love overcoming hatred? When I think of all of the twisted ways in which one group of people hates another, I feel physically ill. I watched an older television program—a science fiction show, with aliens, where one alien race hated the guts of another alien race. And, how could this be alleviated, much less eradicated?

And, then, to have a world emancipated from violence? Violence, horror, despicable behavior of every imaginable kind? The thought of this causes me to tremble. Tremble with fear and deep sorrow, because I am afraid it will never, ever happen while this earth exists.

Yes, this prayer asks God for such things as no more fear, no more injustice. This prayer wishes to have selfishness evaporate, along with the suffering that accompanies it. [1]

Dear Lord, this prayer for World Peace zeros in on so many worthwhile requests. Please, gracious God, bring more peace, more harmony. Lower anxiety and fear. Help individuals and groups all over the world to live together, converse together, eat together. And, not kill each other. Gracious, peace-loving God, hear us, we pray.

@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.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 78-79.