Peace (Karen Saboe)

Webster’s definition:  the freedom from disturbance; tranquility.

When I think of experiencing peace within my soul, I think of the experience of being in the grandeur of the mountains.  I take in the crisp, cool air, and the smell of pine. I work at the switchbacks, and then feel the exhilaration of reaching the summit.  I find a ledge to sit on with the wind at my face, and savor the moment, the beauty, along with the accomplishment, before the climb back down.  Or I think of living in San Diego and those morning walks to the beach to take in the vastness of the Pacific Ocean.  The best time to venture there for me was just before sunrise, when the beach walks were not yet crowded with dog walkers, skateboarders, rollerbladers, and joggers.  The sounds came only from the waves.  I would sit and close my eyes, and just listen.  The freedom from disturbance, the tranquility, quite sublime.

It has been a while since I have experienced what I would call “peace in my soul.”   There has been political strife, a pandemic, injustice on the streets causing civil unrest, and economic downturns resulting in disappearing livelihoods, and financial hardship.  I heard a statistic this week, the week of the election of the 46th President of the United States, that Calm's app saw over 60 million total impressions from October 31 through November 3, with 11 million on Election Day alone.

In this moment, I am searching for tranquility, for peace.

When I was young I used to love going to Sunday School on Sunday morning.  We would gather around the piano and sing songs.  I remember one that we would belt out, that began, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart (Where?!),” and then another verse that was a bit of a tongue-twister, “I have the peace that passes understanding down in my heart (Where?),” repeated multiple times, to end “down in my heart to stay.”  At some level, I understood that there was a peace in knowing Jesus, and that truly, it was a peace that passes understanding.  

Years later, and in this moment, I am searching for tranquility, for peace.

I think back to other Advent seasons, where tradition included sitting in an expansive cathedral listening to a large choir, the heavenly sounds rising into the cathedral rafters, heralding the prophecy of Christ’s birth:  “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6).  Just think, a Prince of Peace.

In this moment, I am searching for tranquility, for peace.

Frederich Beuchner writes in Wishful Thinking (1973) and later in Beyond Words (2004):

I cannot forget, in the strife of this world, that peace comes in knowing Jesus.  I trust there is a plan.  As we are called to respond to this world, may we respond with the eyes of love.  May we seek peace in knowing the Savior of the World, believing that indeed He has overcome the world.  Peace has come.  Shalom.