Recently I've been hearing a lot of the phrase "peace at all costs." At first glance this sounds right, just, good-- peace should be the highest of virtues, particularly in light of the world's current violence and fighting.
But peace at all costs will make you pay with everything, at all costs like it says. You will pay with your heart and mind, with the strength of your body and even your dignity as a person.
I suggest peace at no cost. And this kind of seamless peace comes with the truth. For it is Truth that is the highest good and with Truth peace naturally follows. Truth sets us free. This peace is not easy, but it doesn't drain the life from you like keeping peace for the sake of
"Oh yes," you might be saying "but the truth needs to be spoken in love." I think all too often we use this as an excuse to not truth-tell at all, weighing down the truth with so many niceties it is no longer really true. Love is bold, strong, powerful as much as it is kind and life-bringing.
I hope this rudimentary idea will spark some desire to tell the Truth in order to have true peace, in my own life as well as in yours.
No peace without truth. Let me know what you think.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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4 comments:
The truth, whole truth,etc. John Powell says in his book "Why am I afraid" The kindest thing we can give one another, is the truth. My proplem with that is it means confronting. Of which I am afraid.Secondly, what is the truth? Has it all been revealed to us? Do we know everything? I think not.78 years of breathing has taught me a few things. One, simply because I believe it, does not make it the truth. Perhaps more than some I will with hold or shade the truth to keep peace. If Cathy asks me "does this dress make me look fat?" This coward might well lie. Love the topic.
I like you what said about love being bold, so speaking truth with love is bold. I greatly agree with what you said. You're a smartie.
Truth leading to peace... yes! I think maybe it starts internally - peace that comes with an honest life - and spreads to others from there. Great topic. Reminds me what I hope for.
Excellent post. I especially liked the statement "peace at no cost" (also the title). Often people believe peace is the result of compromise. Compromise is understood as necessary to abate unavoidable violence between different groups, things, etc. Thus this version of peace is very costly to all involved because it assumes that peace is merely the absence of violence, and in turn all differences are either absolved, muddled, or ignored. Of course this is unacceptable for a good life. (A good life requires a great deal of differences and different things in order for one to gain perspective and even happiness.) Yes, peace according to Christian theology is more primordial than violence. In other words, in the beginning there was peace with difference. All things created are equally good yet hold their own unique integrity (i.e. differences in ability, intelligence, memory, etc). Of course because of the Fall the original peace was distorted and all differences became points of contention. Yet the reality remains: peace is not costly but rather a divine gift (an incarnate gift) and therefore free. Again, Sarah, an excellent post. Keep it up.
Alan
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