Originally posted October 25, 2011, at Halstad Parish. Republished with permission of the author.
Peace. It gets talked about a lot in faith circles. We pray for peace. We search for peace. Some people find peace in worship while others still haven’t reconciled themselves to the fact that we are asked to exchange a sign of “the peace” of Christ with the people sitting around us, no less.
Great people of faith seem to have a serene peace about them; it is one of the qualities that set them apart from many of us. This peace seems to come from a deep faith or acceptance.
It’s a quality a lot of people want as part of their spirituality. Some people search for inner peace through prayer, meditation and other spiritual practices. Most of us have to work at it, but some people just “have it.” Their faith just seems to give them a calm base; like Weebles, they seem to be able to take the storms of life without falling down. Counselor-types call it having a “non-anxious presence.”
I remember my maternal grandmother as having that kind of presence. Growing up, we spent summers with her. And in spite of all the kids and our mess and noise, she was always calm. There was only one time I remember her being upset.
Kitten experiences peace
My older sister had rescued a newborn kitten that was just a few days old. Its eyes weren’t even opened when she brought it home. She fed it warmed formula from a doll’s bottle and kept it warm. It was still so small when we came up, that it still needed care and attention.
A cousin had taken the kitten away and was being mean to it, and we went crying to Grandma for help. I don’t remember what she said or did, except that she rushed out of the kitchen, apron flying and soon returned, having rescued the kitten from the cousin and the cow tank.
She settled down with one of her good kitchen towels (the kind we would get in trouble for using to wipe our hands) gently wiping the kitten. She sat by the stove, holding the kitten up near her chin and softly singing Norwegian lullabies. Grandma was in her chair; the world was at peace.
The peace we share during worship is the gift of peace given in faith by Jesus himself. After the resurrection, he greets the disciples with the words “Peace be with you” every time they meet. It is Jesus’ wish that we have his peace.
But there are times in the Gospels when Jesus is upset. Like my grandmother, it is usually when he is looking out for the “little ones” and the “least of these” — the ones that need his help and protection. Our search for peace is never to come at the cost of the call to care for those in need.
Christ’s peace comes from following his Way, which like the life he led, takes us out into the world to care for others.
God’s idea of peace
Reading and studying the Bible, daily prayer, meditation, deep breathing, all our spiritual practices will all fall short of peace unless we also reach out to others. God’s peace is not self-contained; it is communal.
Living Christ’s peace is something I know that I have to practice.
As a musician, the word “practice” has special meaning. Learning an instrument, getting a degree in music means hours of practice locked away in a small room working hard and also working hard in groups large and small until the notes on the page make the music contained in them.
Our spiritual practice takes the same dedication: time alone and time together in groups large and small. We come together to pray and praise, to give God what is due God, and in return, we are filled and strengthened to continue.
Putting away our fears and anxiety doesn’t mean running away from the world but rather taking Christ with us into our everyday lives and giving him all the things we cannot control.
“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:33-34).
Find a link to Christine Iverson’s entry on the blog Halstad Parish at Lutheran Blogs.
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What does peace look like in your life?
Direction amid the tumult
Hope in God
I think Christ's peace is more than just a spiritual discipline, a community thing or even just Christ's wish. Jesus' peace is a free gift given to us, and apprehended by faith. Your line "Their faith just seems to give them a calm base" is exactly true. It's not something that is attained through discipline or practice, but a gift given freely for Christ's sake.
We have this notion that we can somehow earn Christ's peace, whether it is through practice, discipline or what-have-you. That's not how God's gift is given. It's given out of mercy for Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection and given for all of us. That Promise is the source of our peace.
Peter, you are right. We do not earn or grasp for ourselves, Christ's peace. However, like any relationship, the more time we spend together and intentionally give of ourselves, the closer the relationship becomes on our part. Faith is a gift, but faith is also a verb, impelling us to life and action.
I cannot speak for anyone else, but I know that for myself, I find gifts of healing and peace in prayer, worship, and in the Word. It is in the water of baptism, eating at the table, and in hearing the Word that we meet the same Holy Spirit that gives us faith, giving us forgiveness and life. I always come to the table hungry, needing Jesus again.
I need practice constantly or like any musician, I will lose the muscles in my lips, the strength of wind, and the fingers that allow me to make music. It isn't that the gift of faith isn't complete and perfect, that comes from God after all, but rather it's because I'm not. I am still living here in the now/not yet of being very human.
I generally agree with you, except when it comes to the practice part. The 'muscles in your lips, the strength of wind, and fingers' are not strengthened through practice, but from receiving the gift of faith. Desiring to share that faith with others is a consequence of faith. Likewise, with the relationship, we keep betraying it, and it is God who closes that gap and heals the relationship, again and again. This is the Good News. Intimacy of relationship isn't dependent on how hard we work at it or fail to work at it.