Seeking Peace
Peace, peace, peace. During these days of recovery from the unthinkable tragedy of a year ago and ongoing stories of continuing pain and suffering in our country and throughout the world, peace is a cry of the heart and a longing deep within many spirits.

Peace! Where does it come from? In what land will I find it? How will I feel and recognize its present if I should happen upon it in my wandering and searching?

The words of Jesus who has been given the name “Prince of Peace” comes to my waiting and listening soul. "My peace I give you. My peace I leave you." United with these words comes also, "Not as the world gives, do I give." So I am aware that peace is here around me to discover. Have I been immersed in the ways of the commercialized culture around me and waiting expectantly in the wrong places? After all, Jesus, the giver of peace experienced the hatred and rejection of those whose values differed from the ones he lived and taught.

Yet peace surrounds His life and death. Have not the known peace seekers of many faiths, of history, and of our own time also left us their stories of struggle and misunderstandings which led often to persecution and death? Then first must I seek the truths that lead me forward and pray for the courage to hold peace within that cannot be disturbed midst forces of strife without.

Gathering for Peace
Thus were some of my ponderings that led me to accompany a friend to a “Peace Sing” held in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in September 2002. The invitation was to "Come join us in a fun, very informal, supportive atmosphere as we vocalize for pure joy and spirit and peace in a 'circle singing' tradition. Let us demonstrate to our community that the peace movement is strong and viable." These welcoming words aroused feelings of hope and possiblities often hard to find as one listens to the daily news broadcasts with the images of fear, terror, and war.

The evening held enough warmth to be comfortable outdoors (with the help of a light jacket). The sky was cloud-covered as if to challenge those gathering to have faith that the rain would not disturb this effort at sharing peace. So the women, men, and two children came to support each other and to participate in this simple expression of peace seeking and peace vocalizing in song. The atmosphere was friendly and close as people gathered in a circle, open to the earth, the evening air, and the nighttime visits of friendly mosquitoes.

Candles were lit and shared, and the circle widened out in welcome with each newcomer as we expanded to a circle of twenty-five. With a courageous and talented leader of song, music of voices trained and untrained filled the air for the next two and a half hours; songs of the earth and of the life around us and songs of the oneness of all being. Simple songs, easy to learn, that broke out in rounds to mimic a full voiced chorus.

The children played in the dark in freedom and hope as the adults put forth music in the night to create a future of peace wherein this freedom and hope could be lived out and passed on to others. What our children experience and carry in their hearts will indeed be our hope for that world of peace we dream of this night.

Sending Forth Peace
As we sang, the clouds opened up to let the three-quartered moon peer down upon us. It seemed to be that messenger of the Holy One who surrounds and holds all of creation in love encouraging us to keep singing even under the clouds that sometimes cover us in doubt as we face life's struggles. I experienced the moon receiving and lifting up our songs and carrying them to all corners of the earth, joining them to other songs and to other peoples where-ever the moon travels and shines, bringing our songs in the night to touch and heal a wounded world.

As our voices tired of singing, we shared our reasons for coming together and heard of peace actions that will continue our song in constructive ways to keep the harmony of peace flowing throughout our universe. The gift of one passer-by assured us of the value of this time together in this public park. A woman from Dubna, Russia, (La Crosse's sister city) was attracted by our peace sing and spoke of the twin yearnings of her people for the gift of peace that came from our songs. She was the living bond that confirmed for us our songs in the night will reach out and become one song of peace embracing our world.

A gentle rain touched us as we gathered chairs and candles to leave as if to say, "be refreshed, your songs are heard, go forth to bring that peace and hope to others."

Peace, peace, peace.

What songs have you sung today to harmonize with our songs in the night that will move out to cover our world with one, all-embracing melody of Peace?