Peace is a multi-faceted word. It can have a plethora of meanings to different people. Let’s consider imagery associated with the word peace for a moment. I am a visual learner and tend to think about things in images or pictures. When you hear the word peace, what do you envision? You may see a peace sign. It could be a pointer and middle finger held up with the other fingers tucked away by a thumb, or maybe you thought of a circle with a line down the middle and two diagonal lines branching off the center line to the sides of the circle. Did you see a white dove carrying a piece of an olive branch when you read the word peace? Some people imagine God cradling planet Earth with His protective hands.
As the Director of Children’s Ministries at our Edmond Campus, one of my personal favorite images of peace is our big, beautiful, blue and green planet with various children around the perimeter of the world. In the image, the children that are represented around our Earth are from all different descents and religions, not one child around the world looks the same. In this depiction, it doesn’t matter what clothes they are wearing, what they believe in, or even how their families are comprised; there is peace among all of them. They all have one thing in common. They are all children of God. God wants all of us, every color, race, religion, or belief to get along. He wants us to realize that we each bring something to our universal table. Our differences are what make us all unique.
In Sunday School, we recently discussed how God gave Moses the 10 commandments, or rules, that we should live and work by. The last commandment, Thou shalt not covet, means that we shouldn’t want other people’s things and/or assume the actions and behaviors of other people. We should not envy other people. Why is that? The reason is quite simple, but sometimes it is hard for us to comprehend. God created each of us perfectly imperfect. In 2 Thessalonians 3:16 we read, Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
I want you to focus on the last part of the scripture: The Lord be with all of you. It does not depict to whom God is giving peace. He wants everyone to always be at peace, no matter what each person’s background may be. However you perceive the word peace, there is a special meaning to us all and I hope you remember that when you see your neighbor, near or far.
Jocelyn Morgan, Edmond Campus Director of Children’s Ministry
