Giving the Future a Chance to Play
Why Peace Must Be Made
Peace has been an unconscious theme for me since childhood. In 7th grade I got into trouble when I wore a large "Peace” medallion to school. It was the first bit of jewelry I’d ever owned. Yet, for some reason my place of learning felt that I should not wear it there.
In college I had a Christmas Card made from a personal photo. When the card company offered a selection of greetings to go with it, I chose, “Peace on Earth,” which seemed so obvious to me.
Years later, as a Pastor in New York City, the main theme of my work was Peacemaking, which meant cultivating and nurturing, “God’s Peace for All People.”
Last month I shared that I am a part of Sacred Heart Parish in Camden, NJ and how I’ve felt drawn to the painting above, which features eight famous leaders whose lives were devoted to Peace. They were Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Baptist and Hindu. Five men, three women, two Saints, and four Nobel Peace Prize recipients.
Five members of this group of eight were Assassinated. Why is it that humans can so often feel threatened when others work for Peace. Why would we feel the need to put a stop to it. Is peace that dangerous? Or, is it just inconvenient?
What strikes me today about this painting is that the “eight faces of peace” are not pictured alone. Children of various ages are also there, including a baby who may not even be born yet, as she seems to be sleeping in a womb shaped bed. Another viewer told me that the baby looks like she’s dreaming the rest of the scene, which rings true for me.
When I first noticed the children, I asked, “What are kids doing in this picture?” Looking closer I realized that they’re doing what all children do, if given a chance. They’re playing. And dreaming.
Giving the Future a Chance to Play is yet another reason Why Peace Must Be Made.
After that I had another awakening about this. I noticed a faceless area in the lower right portion of the frame. “Why the blank space?’ I thought. “It seems so unbalanced and feels unfinished.” Bingo!
Maybe the vacuum is intentional. Maybe it’s there to draw our focus to something that’s missing. Perhaps it’s inviting us to imagine our own faces filling that void. Perhaps it’s calling us to join the legacy of those who came before us. So that we too will pray, ponder and work for Peace in our own lives, and nation, and world.
How else will the future play, and learn the skills that Make Peace Possible?