Reflection: Practicing For Peacemaking

By Leslie Murray, delivered as a sermon at North Valley Friends Church, February 14, 2021

Today we wrap up Peace month... This week it’s hit me over and over again that the goal isn’t peace for peace’s sake. We are not trying to “uphold the status quo that is masquerading as peace”, as Austin Channing Brown states - But rather, like James 3:18 says, “those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.” Bringing peace about in the world sows seeds of justice...

I still remember possibly two decades ago something Colin Saxton preached when he said that to be a peace maker we have to start with our daily lives. It was a really good sermon and I wish we had a podcast of it! But it has stuck with me for a long, long time...

Whether that be peacemakers to ourselves, to our coworkers, to our families, in our schools: similar to athletes, we can’t expect to go run a marathon without months and months of training. We build up to it, we stretch and strain our muscles to be ready, to perform. We start by running a mile and each week add more miles to our training. I think being a peacemaker is similar. We have to practice in our daily lives. And, when we consider themes of civility, simplicity, social media and silence, we’re encouraging each other to consider what is Christ’s invitation for us? How might Christ want us to practice peace making every day? And how do we know where to start or what God wants from us in this area? Peace making doesn’t just happen by sheer will or force. We need practices and habits to put ourselves in a place to hear our loving God to know where we need to practice peace-making in our daily lives. Jesus modeled this for us as he regularly spent time with God. He put practices in place to spend time with God, listen to God and I would guess – this practice put him in a space to hear what to do. To practice peace-making in our every-day walking around life, we need practice and action.

In addition to quiet time with God in the morning, one of my practices is to read books – I know, novel huh?! I think I’ve mentioned it before but I just finished reading “My Grandmother’s Hands” by Resmaa Menaken. And what I appreciate about this book is the emphasis on our bodies. We, especially as Westerners, learn almost exclusively in our heads – with academic knowledge – if we learn more about it then we can master it or control it. Menaken’s premise is we experience life in our bodies and our bodies, or rather, our DNA, retain trauma. And if we don’t deal with that trauma, we continue to repeat it and react to external experiences from that place of trauma. Menaken uses this to discuss race relations, specifically with white folks, black folks and police. But I’ve realized that when we are trying to discern how to be peacemakers – this book has helped me look at some ways I am hindered at bringing about peace in my daily life. Menaken talks about settling yourself when you experience stress in your body – much like Doreen Dodgen Magee talks about it – think of the way a soccer player receives the ball with their body – with your chest and bringing the ball to your feet as your body “settles” the ball. Our reaction to stress, can be similar. Instead of responding and reacting to stress, i.e. matching and one upping another’s level of stress/anger/etc., what if we’re able to settle? To pause, and allow our bodies to feel, to absorb and be able to respond from a healthier place instead of our lizard brains or our flight/fight brains. I have realized that for me, making sure I’m exercising is an important part of my self-care – that I often have excess angst or stress that I need outlets for and getting my heart rate up & sweating is one of the best ways I can settle my body on a regular basis. For me, this is part of a practice that helps me ‘pause’ more often throughout my day – it allows me the space to be able to be a daily peace maker more often.

I wonder how we – I and you – are called to daily peace-making in our daily lives? Some pragmatic ways I have sensed Christ calling me to peace-making is remembering to pause before speaking in anger & frustration to my husband or family with a biting word. If and when Nathan and I are in an argument, I try to pause during the argument and ask Christ to infuse my words with love and clarity and intention. My goal is to speak truth in love at work, even if it’s difficult to do so. It is softening my tone when I ask my kids to do something when I’m frustrated they’ve forgotten to complete their chores. Once. Again. And my family can tell you, I’m not good at any of these things. But I have sensed Christ nudging me in these ways to practice peacemaking in my daily life. I am trying to practice and train my peace-making muscles trusting that the small incremental ways I enter the world can contribute to peace and justice in my daily life.

I wonder what your training will look like? What muscles do you need to train to be a peacemaker to sow seeds of justice? Kids that are gathered with us – what do you think it would look like to be practice bringing peace to your every day? Might it look like sharing a toy with your brother or sister? Or maybe it’s remembering to do your chores? Or be gentle with your cat? Or play a game with your younger sibling even when you don't really want to?

I wonder what the invitation is for you? Is there one area Christ is inviting you to be more of a peace maker in your daily life? Might you be a catalyst for peace making in your spheres of influence?

"¹⁷ What of the wisdom from above?

First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine.

¹⁸ Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts."

James 3:17&18