December 17, 2001
A State of Peace
Silent night, holy night; All is calm, all is bright; ‘Round yon virgin mother and child;
Holy infant so
tender and mild;
Sleep in
heavenly peace; Sleep in heavenly peace.
Regardless of your religious
upbringing, chances are that you are familiar with this Christmas carol.
We sang it today in a church service and I will no doubt sing it a few
more times before the decorations are packed away for another year.
Peace is on the minds of most of
us all over the world this year. We
join together in our hope for peace in Afghanistan and that they find a peace
and freedom that they have not experienced in years. Now, as if that region were not worrisome enough, we are
witnessing escalating violence in the Middle East and add them to our prayers
and thoughts.
When we think of striving for
peace, it is usually in the context of wars or conflicts.
There are references in many sacred works from varied traditions,
however, that also speak of making peace with God.
In all cases, peace is sought through action.
In the new testament of the Christian Bible, Hebrews 12:14 says “Pursue
peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” As one of my favorite commentaries on the bible says about
this passage, “Peace and holiness will not drop on them like snow from heaven.
They must strive for them.” (1)
Peace can also refer to a state
of peace that comes from within. In
many traditions, a common greeting is “peace be with you”, to which the
other replies, “and also with you”.
The Hebrew word shalom is used by many of the Jewish faith as a greeting
and farewell. This form of peace is very personal.
For me this personal peace represents a calm and confidence that begins
in the soul and manifests in kindness, caring and nurturing.
Striving for inner peace means resolving personal conflicts that keep us
from a state of peace where much can be accomplished.
I believe that inner peace is the precursor to our ability in pursuing
peace with everyone.
Just as we have been taught that
we have to love ourselves before we can truly love others, so it is with peace.
If we strive for inner peace and thus know peace and live in peace, so
will we be able to extend peace.
I listened to the lyrics of
Silent Night while singing them today and was flooded by a feeling of inner
peace. The image of sleeping in
heavenly peace sent a wash of warm emotions over and through my soul.
My wish for this holiday season immediately expanded from peace in
Afghanistan and the Middle East to include each individual so that they may pursue
peace with everyone.
With respect, acceptance, and love,
Richard
©
Richard D. Olson and Awaken The Soul, 2001; Edited by Janice E. Olson
(1)
The Interpreter’s One-Volume Commentary On The Bible; Edited by Charles M.
Laymon; © 1971;Abingdon Press – Nashville, TN