“Today we ask for hands and hearts that will help build a world where equality and justice, freedom and peace, will grow and flourish.”
As I sat through today’s Martin Luther King Jr. prayer service, I was reminded of the meaning of peace and all the things that “peace” entails. The Fourth Grade readers spoke about Martin Luther King Jr. and his desire for equality and justice.
Martin Luther King Jr. dreamt of a world of love and understanding, of togetherness and unity. The concept of togetherness reminds me of how important it is to be connected to one another. We were designed to live in community. We don’t function well in isolation. Unfortunately, our current global society is riddled with division and animosity. These things tear us apart, not just as a community but as individuals. We all have different beliefs, opinions, likes and dislikes. The goal is to maintain peace while still being free to express our individuality. It’s ok to have your own opinion. While it’s not always easy to respect someone you disagree with, it is possible to disagree and still live in peace. I believe this is one indication of a healthy, thriving community.
Keeping peace makes us stronger as a community, and when a community is strong, it is safe. If there’s one thing we desire for our children, it is safety. I don’t have children of my own but as I’ve gotten to know and love the children at Corpus, and as I’ve watched them grow, I’ve gained a sense of protectiveness and pride. I am protective of their future and proud to watch them grow. I can only imagine that this feeling is magnified as a parent.
I hope for these children to grow up confident and capable and to live in a world where they feel valued and respected. I think we have a long way to go to achieve this universally but I am inspired by the steps I see us taking even in this small Corpus community.
As God’s children, we’ve been called to emulate Christ’s light and love for the world. What better way to show that light than to spread peace? And sometimes the best way to spread peace is to make sure we carry it around in ourselves.
When I think about the meaning of peace, a very specific mental image comes to mind. It’s inspired by narrative my therapist once shared with me. (You can find the link to that story below). The moral of the story is how peace exists not just when things are going well. We can have peace regardless of our circumstances. Finishing up the prayer service today, I thought about the image in the story and about the strength it must have taken for Martin Luther King Jr., and all the other peacemakers, to maintain their sense of peace within themselves. After all, we pour out what we put into ourselves. We bless our families, our friends, our community best when our hearts are in a place of peacefulness.
http://www.agiftofinspiration.com.au/stories/personalgrowth/picture.shtml