Spiritual Perspectives
Waging Peace in the World

By Elizabeth Windisch
Special to The Independent

Christians have just celebrated Christmas, the day commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth their Messiah. His coming heralds a new age, a new hope, a new peace. Jesus knew that for peace to come, the status quo would have to go. His actions spoke for him. He fed the hungry, healed the sick, reached out to those tormented by "demons," and had compassion for those who grieved.

Jesus' message was not some elaborate plan or advertising campaign. It was simply "follow me" follow my example. The Prince of Peace drew on his heritage, for the Hebrew Prophets had spoken of righting injustices and taking care of the poor and marginalized in society. Yet two thousand years later we still can't seem to grasp this concept. Greed, covetousness, lust for power, ignorance, and complacency have kept the human race in a holding pattern that benefits none.

War is an old habit, and it must be broken if mankind is to move forward. The older the habit, the more emotional it is, and war is as old as civilization.

There is a saying of the ancients that "those who wished to improve the world must first put their states in order; that before they could put their states in order they must regulate their families; before they could regulate their families they must perfect their own souls; to perfect their own souls they must be sincere in their thoughts; to be sincere in their thoughts they must extend their knowledge to the utmost by investigating things and seeing them as they are." We have a lot of work to do. We may not see world peace in our time, but we all must be willing to work for it. Begin with seeking inner peace. The ancient wisdom is empowering. If you are at peace with yourself then you will be able to take it beyond yourself to others.

Florence Brewer Boeckel wrote "The Turn Toward Peace" in 1930 when she was with the National Council for Prevention of War. After the horrors of World War I, many (including the faith community) chose to work towards a broader understanding of each other, crossing cultural and governmental lines to promote peace and prosperity for all people Extreme pacifism is not the answer either, for as history shows, there are times a unified effort is needed to confront evil lessons learned from Nazi Germany. If we have learned one thing, it is that ultimate power leads to ultimate corruption.

Today, more than ever before, our global economy, prosperity, and progress depend on peaceful coexistence. War interrupts our system of exchange, and disruption of the global economy causes more suffering of those already living on the edge of society.

Spiritually, war denies what our faith and modern thought assert the value of the individual.

World peace would aid international cooperation necessary to solve such problems as financial depression, unemployment, and hunger. There are indications that humankind is moving in the right direction, for in spite of war and cultural conflict, there has been an outpouring of compassion and aid to those dying of disease and hunger in Africa, for the cold and homeless in Pakistan after the earthquakes, the displaced here after Katrina, the healing work through organizations like Doctors Without Borders, Church World Service, faith based missions, and individuals like our own Doctors Arrowsmith the international community is responding to the needs of the world populace.

If peace is to reign on earth (as Christians sung with gusto a few weeks ago) it has to start with you and me.

Sy Miller and Jill Jackson (1955) composed a song for 180 teenagers on retreat in the mountains of California. They came from different religious, racial, cultural and economic backgrounds to create understanding and friendship among themselves. As they returned to their homes and communities they took with them this song, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." It is now sung all over the world wherever people gather in harmony.

U.S. Christians are asking, "Where are we going as a nation? Have we allowed fear to manipulate us? What is the role of our country as a global citizen? What does our Christian faith teach us about individual and collective actions in the world?" These are among the issues addressed in "For the Peace of the World," a new curriculum on international relations available through the National Council of Churches. To order call 1-800-889-5733.

If Christians truly desire the Prince of Peace to reign, as people of faith we need to heed the Hebrew prophet Micah (6:8): When asked what does the Lord require, he responded "... to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."

Show compassion and love, work to ease the suffering of the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the weak, the hungry, the naked, the disenfranchised in our community and worldwide and there will be peace on earth. In the words of Pope Paul VI, "If you want peace, work for justice."

What can you do to promote peace today? in your heart, mind, soul; in your family; amongst your friends and colleagues; in your community; in your state and country; in the world?

Elizabeth Windisch is the Director for Religious Education for the First United Methodist Church in Gallup. She can be contacted at (505) 863-4512.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, wishing to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.