The Newsletter of Gilead Presbyterian Church, Carmel, NY Dear Friends, Okay, show of hands: how many out there know what the Hebrew word “shalom” means? All right, everyone lower your arms; this isn’t an “Aren’t You Glad You Use Dial?” commercial. Shalom means peace, of course. Duh; we all know that, right? But given how often the word “peace” comes up in our prayers and worship, maybe we ought to pause occasionally to ponder about the depth of meaning these words have as we use them so casually. Peace and Shalom have a variety of meanings and nuances. Listen to what Frederick Beuchner has to say about it: Peace has come to mean the time when there aren't any wars or even when there aren't any major wars. Beggars can't be choosers; we'd most of us settle for that. But in Hebrew peace, "shalom," means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself. One of the titles by which Jesus is known is Prince of Peace, and he used the word himself in what seems at first glance to be two radically contradictory utterances. On one occasion he said to the disciples, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have come not to bring peace but a sword" (Matthew 10:34). And later on, the last time they ate together, he said to them, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you" (John 14:27). The contradiction is resolved when you realize that for Jesus peace seems to have meant not the absence of struggle but the presence of love. * Not the absence of struggle, but the presence of love. It might be helpful for us to hang onto that concept these days as we struggle through racial divides, heightened terror threats and a seemingly interminable national election. The Bible calls us to be involved in government and social justice, and it’s healthy to have strong
October 2016
opinions. Let us speak our truth in love, take any loving action that is required, and then let go the outcome, placing it in God’s hands. Division and struggle will continue, but our hearts will find a measure of shalom and peace. I remember years ago at Gilead having a service for wholeness, or Shalom—anointing with oil and praying for healing. No, not the Rise Out of Your Wheelchair or Throw Away Your Crutches kind of healing, although that would be fun, wouldn’t it? Our prayers for healing were more along the lines of Beuchner’s description: not the absence of disease or infirmity, but the presence of love. It’s a proven fact that people in hospitals recover faster when surrounded with loving family and a community of prayers. Love has healing power, as little children know when they come to us grown-ups for a kiss to make it all better. We grow too wise for that as we age, don’t we? Too bad. The Holy Spirit is in mom’s kisses, and the church’s prayers; and God’s love flowing through us has an energy that is palpable and real. Healing does come from such Spirit, and sometimes even in the form of recovery from physical ills, but not always. We must be open to the infinite variety of channels for healing that God provides, such as renewed relationships, strengthened hearts, or even the ultimate healing that comes in death, when true wholeness is ours at last in God’s eternity. Gilead is a community full of God’s love, and we’re all on a journey of healing together: healing each other through our prayers, fellowship and nurture. We won’t always agree on which candidate to choose, but we can agree to work for peace in our lives and in the life of our church. These are the ways God lifts us out of our infirmity of sin and brokenness and leads us slowly, one step at a time, by the power of Grace, into shalom: “being wholly and happily yourself.” May it be so in your life and mine. Love and Shalom, Martin *Beuchner, F. (1992). Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations With Frederick Beuchner. San Francisco, HarperSanFransisco, pp. 23940.
The Shingle
October 2016
Page 1 of 22