PEACE: be still... there is work to be done

A little over a year ago, I served as the worship coordinator for a summer camp, guided by the theme "Come to the Water." All summer, my team and I experienced God through streams, water fountains, happy tears, ocean waves, and swimming pools. Water was life, and through it, we discovered a deeper understanding of our God.

One night in worship, our pastor preached about the story of Jesus calming the storm. In our prayer experience, one of our staffers dimmed the lights. Another played a video of rain, lightning, and thunderstorms. And then a voice asked each of our campers to think about whatever metaphorical storm overwhelmed them (expectations, school assignments, the feeling of never being good enough).

As the rain slowed and the lights returned, I closed our experience with the meditative song, "Peace Be Still."

Peace be still

Peace be still

Peace be still, to the wind and the waves

Peace be still

Peace be still

Peace be still, and the ocean obeys

Prince of... Peace?

It's peace week in the Advent calendar—a week in which we are invited to think about peace in the Christmas story, God's story, and our story. But, I'll be honest... Sometimes, I find this week a bit confusing. After all, if we really look at the Christmas story and the stories of Jesus, there's not a whole lot of peace there.

I mean, think about it: Jesus's birth was full of desperate parents, painful childbirth, and the threat of King Herod. His ministry was full of controversy, religious upset, and political unrest. And his death? Well that one speaks for itself.

From birth to death and even after, Jesus was not exactly a peaceful guy... Or at least, not in the way we've defined peace for so long. So why light this candle? And why celebrate this week?

...

Well, unfortunately for all of us people-pleasers and peace-keepers out there, I'll let you in on a little secret: Peace (the kind that Jesus sought after) is not the absence of conflict (I know, I know...). Instead, peace is a closeness with God and an assurance in following the way of the Lord.

We do not light the candle of peace because we are peacekeepers. We light the candle of peace because we are peace seekers. Peace makers. And yes, this ruffles some feathers, but so did Jesus.

Throughout Jesus's entire ministry, he shows us over and over again: Yes, we can find peace in the comfort God offers us, but we should also find peace through the pursuit of justice.

And just like we light the candle of hope when the world feels hopeless or the candle of joy when the world around us feels consumed by sorrow... We light the candle of peace in hopes that one day, through our work as the hands and feet of Christ, justice and peace will prevail.

The Two-Sided Coin

In the story of Jesus and the storm, I imagine that the disciples felt completely overwhelmed—and not just from the storm... from their whole lives since following Jesus.

Were they weary of all the hurting people they'd encountered? Were they frustrated by Jesus's tendency to talk in parables? Were they homesick for their families? ...And then, a storm?!

This story is the peak of what it means to feel surrounded by chaos, anxiety, and fear. But it's also an example of peace as a two-sided coin.

In the disciples' literal storm, they called on their friend Jesus. In our own storms, too, God is there to offer us comfort ("Peace be still"). But also, the story doesn't end here, and it didn't begin here either. This story is sandwiched between stories of the disciples working, preaching, healing, and teaching with Jesus. Right alongside peace as a source of comfort, the disciples demonstrate that peace is hard work.

The disciples remind us: We do not light the candle of pleasure. Or comfort. Or convenience. We light the candle of peace, and this loaded word is a call for our lives.

This season, we have good news: In every moment, God is there, saying, "Peace be still." For unto us, a child is born. So take a breath. Remember who you are. Remember whose you are... But also, roll up your sleeves. Look around for places of need, and get to work... for there is work to be done:)

This Advent, as we light the flame of peace, may we not forget that with peace burns justice. May we find comfort in the calming power of our God... and then, may we get to work. Amen.