Embodying Peace
As we walk in the light of peace toward the second week of Advent I invite you to explore what it means to embody peace. We are preparing to greet our Emmanuel. The name Emmanuel means “God with us.” This echoes our understanding of incarnation. God ‘s presence is incarnated in Jesus. Incarnation means that the divine (God) is not separate from the human but expressed through humans. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, then how does that peace dwell in us? How is it expressed through us? To put this another way, embodied peace is the practice of letting God’s calm spirit and justice flow through our bodies, words, and actions - so that others can feel safe, seen, and whole. Embodied peace is not just thought or spoken about, but lived out and felt in the body, the community, and the world. It is peace made visible and tangible through presence, movement, choices, and compassion.
One of the ways that I try to bring peace to the world is through grounded presence. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in this field, but over the years I have learned to hold a compassionate presence in times of conflict and anger. In order to do this, I listen deeply and try to refrain from rushing to speak. I imagine God’s love pouring over the other person as they express their anxiety or anger. I try to slow my breathing down while relaxing my shoulders. And sometimes when I’m really struggling to do this, I repeat a mantra in my head that usually goes something like this: “Be still and know that I am God” or “I am one with God, God is with me.” This doesn’t mean that I remain silent though.
Another important part of embodying peace is to remember about the peace that Jesus brought is that it was never passive. Jesus stood up against oppressors and advocated for fair treatment of all people. He spoke about the importance of inclusion and respect. Jesus’ justice came with compassion and kindness, not violence or retribution. One of the things that we all need to practice is speaking the truth with kindness, courage and love. Even in moments of tension and conflict, we need to strive to keep a calm tone, listen deeply and then share with one another a different perspective in order to keep the dialogue open. Embodied peace is relational. In order to achieve peace we need to create safe spaces for conversation across differences. In A New Creed, we say that God has come in Jesus the word made flesh to reconcile and make new. We as followers are called to be part of the reconciliation process in the world.
How will you embody peace in the coming week? What can you practice in your words, and deeds? Remember that Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
Go in peace and serve this world in love!
Rev. Karen