Shalom

This blog is inspired by a recent two week workshop focusing on “Living with Shalom”. Students throughout Uganda united to learn about peace with God, with oneself, with others, with the nation, and with the environment. The training culminated in an energetic, exhilarating, and unifying cultural gala in which community members observed the participants performing traditional dances, songs, poems, or other creative expressions to demonstrate their learning.

The English translation of the Hebrew word “shalom” means holistic peace. Holistic implies that something is made up of many integrated components, where if one aspect is missing then the entire thing suffers. In essence, for shalom to truly exist, every element of life must experience peace, including the mundane and trivial to the complex and integral. Relationships; with God, with oneself, with others, and with the environment must be embraced by peace. But what exactly is peace? Is peace simply a psychological state in which the mind is calm knowing that all relationships are nurturing? Is peace an emotion in which reassurance and contentment preside? Is peace demonstrated in actions, by showing respect and love in all relationships? Is peace individual or corporate or both? Is peace theoretical, something to understand and analyze in order to be effective? Or is peace practical, only fully represented by doing and being? Peace, like so many other virtues, perhaps isn’t meant to be explicitly understood by human kind. Instead, perhaps we must trust God to provide peace, holistic peace. And maybe we won’t even recognize peace when it comes. The bread served for breakfast. The clean, treated water continually flowing from the tap. The doctor’s prescription for medicine to help heal our wounded and ill mortal bodies. The smile of a stranger passing by. The large tree sheltering the squirrel from the passing vehicles. The forgiveness and grace of God.

Recognizing peace is often difficult. My eyes are blinded by the physical, emotional, and psychological scars I see. My ears are deafened by the screams of terror, the cries of sorrow, and the wails of the mourning. My nose fails to smell the fragrance of God’s creation, instead I smell only the ashes from burning vegetation. My mouth thirsts for clean water, for nutritious meals, for variety and balance. My hands feel rough and blistered from the laborious activities daily required to continue living. When all my senses seem to direct my attention to conflict, I become refocused and comforted by God’s promise for peace. Peace came when I accepted the love of my Ugandan friends as we learn to live in unity. Peace is here as I reflect on the friendships I have established and God’s forgiveness. Peace will come as the trees continue to flourish and as we practice environmental stewardship.

I pray for shalom. That each person can individually and personally experience this intimate expression of God’s love. That each community chooses to collectively embrace unity. That each nation rejects the structural imbalances that create an unequal hierarchy of power and control. That the environment is celebrated and properly cared for. May God’s peace infiltrate your life, from the mundane and trivial to the complex and integral.