My definition of peace is tightly
intertwined and connected to love. It goes hand in hand, and true peace cannot
exist in the absence of love.
Growing up in an active church, fundamental peace
and love was learned instinctively. We have all heard the common Christian phrase
spoken by Jesus "turn the other cheek". Author and Professor Walter Wink4
cleverly dissects this common phrase in an uncommon way,
"Jesus is not just
suggesting that we masochistically let people step all over us. Instead, Jesus
is pointing us towards something that imaginatively disarms others".
From
experience I have learned that abrasive conflict that lacks objectivity and
empathy, just births more hatred and deep seeded conflict.
Wink goes on to explain "when hit on the
cheek, turn and look the person in the eye. Do not cower and do not punch back.
Make sure they look into your eyes and see your sacred humanity and it will
become increasingly harder for them to hurt you".
Personally, I love this
quote and winks' description, it shows that Jesus teaches a third way to deal
with conflict that eliminates both passivity and violence, and it is neither
submission nor assault. Everyone has a
"sacred humanity", they are uniquely created. Seeing each person as unique
and valuable is the first step to creating peace.
Violent conflict exist because we conceptualize
the other person's motives as innately evil or negative, we are so affected by the conflict that we subjectively blind ourselves. By looking at a
situation with empathy and objectivity, although it is difficult, could we feel the same seeds of hatred?
Realistically, objectivity is easier said than done. Perhaps the truth is that
we are all innately evil and selfish, and only our acts of love are the things
that make us good.
Walter Winks' quote continues “When someone tries
to sue you for your coat on your back and drags you before the court, go ahead
and take all your clothes off and hand them over, exposing the sickness of
their greed." We can only achieve peace when we choose to make a
difference. When we act counter to our impulses and our human nature, people
will notice.
The Final piece of Winks' quote pulls all the
rest together "when a soldier asks you to walk a mile with them and carry
their pack (Roman law/custom) don't throw your fists in the air like a zealot,
just walk with them two miles instead of one, talk to them and woo them into
our movement by your love."
It is with that love of humanity that we can
address all challenges and confrontations. Demonizing the other person in the
conflict is pointless unless our intent is to destroy, we must step into the
shoes of our enemies and win them over with our love.
Reference:
1: Larry J. Frisk, Patterns of Conflict- Paths to Peace (Schellenberg,
2008)
2: Who is Adam Curle, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Curle
(June 2013)
3: University of Waterloo, Instructed by Nathan Funk (https://uwaterloo.ca/peace-conflict-studies/)
4: Walter Wink, The Powers That Be (New York:
Doubleday, 1998)
5: Shane Claibourne, The Irresistible Revolution
[Living as an ordinary radical] (Zondervan: The Simple Way 2006)
