The 'peace' the gospel brings is never the absence of conflict, but an ineffable divine reassurance within the heart of conflict; a peace that surpasses understanding.
Interpretation
True peace is found not in the absence of conflict, but in the presence of inner reassurance amidst turmoil.
Walter Wink's quote suggests that genuine peace is not merely about avoiding conflict; rather, it manifests as a profound sense of assurance and tranquility within oneβs heart even when facing challenges. It emphasizes that this inner peace transcends logical understanding, reflecting a deeper spiritual or emotional state that defies external circumstances.
In practice
During a meditation session focused on finding inner peace amidst life's challenges.
In 1989, thirteen nations comprising 1,695,000 people experienced nonviolent revolutions that succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations . . . If we add all the countries touched by major nonviolent actions in our century (the Philippines, South Africa . . . the independence movement in India . . .) the figure reaches 3,337,400,000, a staggering 65% of humanity! All this in the teeth of the assertion, endlessly repeated, that nonviolence doesn't work in the 'real' world.
Evil can be opposed without being mirrored. Oppressors can be resisted without being emulated. Enemies can be neutralized without being destroyed.
The most notable thing about Time is that it is so purely relative. A large amount of reminiscence is, by common consent, conceded to the drowning man; and it is not past belief that one may review an entire courtship while removing one's gloves.
Anything whose presence or absence makes no discernible difference is no essential part of the whole.
People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
It is useful that while mankind are imperfect there should be different opinions, so is it that there should be different experiments of living; that free scope should be given to varieties of character, short of injury to others.
By calling attention to 'a well regulated militia,' 'the security of the nation,' and the right of each citizen 'to keep and bear arms,' our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy... The Second Amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic civilian-military relationships in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the Second Amendment will always be important.
A Church that has lost its voice for justice is a Church that has lost its relevance in the world.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.