Peace

Peace is often thought of as the absence of conflict—a time when the world isn’t at war, or at least not embroiled in anything close to war. Many of us would gladly settle for that, just a little less chaos. But in Hebrew, the word shalom goes deeper. It’s not just about calm on the outside; it’s about wholeness, having everything you need to fully be yourself and live with joy. It's calm on the inside.

Jesus is often known as the Prince of Peace, and he spoke of peace in ways that seem almost contradictory at first. In one moment, he tells his disciples, “Don’t think I’ve come to bring peace to the earth; I haven’t come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). Then, later, during the meal, he was fully aware would be his last with them, he tells them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27).

On the surface, these statements seem to clash. But when you look closer, you realize Jesus wasn’t talking about a life free from struggle. For him, peace wasn’t the absence of hardship; it was the presence of love. And that’s a much deeper, more transformative kind of peace—the kind that can carry you through any storm.

So, on September 11, 2024, 23 years after our country was violently attacked, we still have choices to make about using what “sword” we have within our reach or remaining in the presence of love.

Dig deep…keep going.