Peacemakers
Upon reading today’s verse of the day on my Bible app this morning, I was struck by how relevant it is for today, which is MLK Jr. day. The verse, "Depart from Evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it" - Psalms 34:14, resonates deeply with Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy of seeking justice through peace. Amidst a world in turmoil, he exemplified grace and sought unity over division. In an era of segregation and inequality, he chose to depart from evil and do good. His renowned quote, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that," reflects his profound understanding of faith and its application in life. He knew that hate and war would only make matters worse. He knew that peace and light had the power to make a difference. MLK Jr.'s character and words undoubtedly echoed his pursuit of righteousness and peace. I admire his courage.
We have the notion that we can only have peace if we are in a quiet room, if we are alone, or only if we are at church. However, peace is something we can acquire from God and live in, if we actively seek it. As we could see in MLK Jr.'s example, he wasn’t exactly in a peaceful setting; he wasn’t living freely or surrounded by the love of people. The world he was living in was full of hate and violence, yet he managed to find peace and live in it. As I mentioned in my stories earlier today, peace is not the absence of trouble, conflict, or tribulation. Instead, peace is something we can seek, find, and actively pursue. To pursue is to follow, to continue, to process along. We have to be those bearers of peace, but what does that look like in our daily lives and interactions with others?
Peacemakers:
Listen with empathy
Seek restoration/ work toward resolving a conflict
Seek to understand
Show accountability for their actions
Turn away from doing wrong
Respond kindly/respectfully even in disagreement
“Depart from Evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it”