A Piece of Peace
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” (Hymn written by: Horatio Gates Spafford)
While doing a rough search of the word “peace”, I saw over 340 entries in the NRSV version of the Bible. I am sure that number is not all encompassing. Noticeably, not all of the ways that the word was used were calming and soothing to my soul. Or, more importantly, to the protagonist of the verse or passage. I began to wonder why such a common word could mean so many things when said in so many ways.
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.” (Hymn written by: Horatio Gates Spafford)
While doing a rough search of the word “peace”, I saw over 340 entries in the NRSV version of the Bible. I am sure that number is not all encompassing. Noticeably, not all of the ways that the word was used were calming and soothing to my soul. Or, more importantly, to the protagonist of the verse or passage. I began to wonder why such a common word could mean so many things when said in so many ways. “Peace be unto your house.” or “He held his peace.” Different meanings when used in different ways. Then it dawned on me. That’s just it. The power of the word is in the diversity of the word. Peace is so powerful because it is a shared desire between those near and far. Those of different races, religions, cultures, and ethnicities.
Although peace looks different for different people, peace is a common goal all over the world for billions of people. So then, why can’t it be achieved? At Global Ministries, my job is to promote advocacy and education for our partners all over the globe. However, the constant fight for peace often leaves me restless. I thought that “joining the fight” would bring me peace as it was long a dream of mine. Yet, the more I learn and share, the more disturbed I become about the state of the world. Isn’t that ironic?
I am often told to “go to the scriptures” or “meditate” in order to regain my sense of peace, but even as an Ordained Minister, I must admit that those are often not “cure-alls”. How can I be at peace when there are people constantly dying? When our sisters, brothers, and children both at home and abroad are being raped, trafficked, abused, and exploited? How can I know this and still sleep at night? These are the questions that sometimes plague my mind as I go forth daily in the fight for justice. However, I am learning that in those times, I must renew the vows between my faith and my doubt. Author John Ortberg wrote a book entitled, “Faith and Doubt”, and in it he encourages the reader to understand that one cannot have an open and honest relationship with God without accepting both their faith and the inevitable doubt of living in this world. I found his work both reassuring and inspiring. To know that one does not negate the other, but partners the other.
So, I reread the words of the song, “It is well with my soul,” particularly the first line, and I found myself understanding it differently. Finally, some light at the end of the tunnel! After all, understanding is what I lack when I am void of peace at the state of the world. I found the words saying to me that peace comes first. Before anything else, I must have peace. What is that? It is the acceptance that although I trust God, there’s a lot that I don’t understand. Additionally, once I accept that, I still may feel uneasy and downright uncomfortable about the state of the world. However, peace, is present when despite all of that, I still commit myself to doing “a good work” and pressing forward in the fact of adversity. Peace is sleeping at night, despite the wars, because although I detest violence, I trust God. Peace is still leaving my home when I need to ,even though danger is both seen and unseen, because I believe that although I don’t know the mind of God, I have faith that God knows more than I do. Peace, like a river. I must let it flow through my body and overwhelm my soul. That way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, I will be able to stand strong on the renewed vows of my faith and doubt and allow myself to be comforted.
Peace means different things to different people. This may not be your peace. But, this is where mine starts. It is not easy to explain and even harder to live out. When I get overwhelmed at the thought of world peace, I have to renew my inner peace. For it is in the latter that my work for the former is founded. How does one eat the elephant? One piece at a time. How does one stand firm in the fight for justice? One peace at a time. Let us all join together as we renew ourselves daily for our piece of peace.
Rev. Shernell Edney serves as the Program Associate for Global Mission Advocacy and Education.