The story is told of a scorpion that wanted to cross a stream. A frog offered to give it a ride. As they were travelling, the scorpion stung the frog. The frog winced, but continued across the water. This happened several times. When they reached the other side, the frog asked, “Why did you sting me when I was helping you?” The scorpion replied, “I can’t help it – it’s my nature. But tell me, why did you continue to help me even when I was hurting you?” “Because helping others is my nature,” replied the frog.[1]
Probably, the classic mis-pronouncement in political history was that made by Neville Chamberlain when broadcasting the Munich Agreement on the 1st October 1938 – “I believe it is peace for our time . . . peace with honour.” Shortly after that, Hitler marched on Poland, war was declared, and Chamberlain resigned. Chamberlain desperately wanted to believe that war could be averted, that was his nature. He was a man of peace who endeavoured to maintain neutrality for his nation, even in spite of the gathering political storm.
Thomas a Kempis said: “All people desire peace, but few desire the things that make for peace.” The self-discipline to achieve a resolution of conflict is often sacrificed for the path of least resistance resulting in aggression. All of us face a war situation of some sort or another, but the process of truce is at times difficult and many, like Chamberlain, shy away from the reality of the situation.
Very few would deny the existence of personal conflict, and it is hard to speak about peace because we know so little of it. All of us are caught up in our own wars, both large and little, hot and cold and as a result we long for peace. One person put it this way; “peace is that glorious moment in history when everyone stops to reload.” We have just come to the end of a furious election and it seemed during it that parties were at war!
There are four main types of conflict; political, ecclesiastical, family and personal. Today we have the prospect of Europe facing troubles created by ISIS as fleeing migrants endeavour to land on their beaches. There is war in the Anglican denomination because of the appointment of homosexual and women bishops. There are wars raging in countless homes throughout this land, as husbands and wives rage in anger and children are emotionally scarred for life.
If only our own conflict that has been grumbling on for years could finally be put behind us, then we think that life would take on a new brightness; but soon another conflict would arise because we are only human. We see in our own troubles a mirror of the world situation, and just as we imagine victory over our own enemies so we take sides as we see nations slaughter each other.
The Biblical word, “Shalom” can simply be a prayer for safety, good health or success. It can also describe good relations between people and nations.
When Jews greet one another, they offer the word as a benediction. In Hebrew it is “never only a negative state; it never means only the absence of trouble; it always means everything which makes for man’s highest good.”[2]
The essential effort to be a peacemaker not peace lover, always starts with turning to God. No one can work at peace until they KNOW peace. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ “ (Romans 5:1). In anticipation of the future gospel Isaiah quotes: “The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” (Isa. 32:17). The argument of Christ’s prayer was: “that they may be one, even as we are one” (verse 22). There was never any discord between the Father and the Son Jesus Christ. Peace was His prayer; peace can be our blessing.
1 The Clergy Journal, May/June 2002, p. 44.
2 William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Vol 1, The Saint Andrew Press, 1965, Page 103
