What is Peace?

I love the movie Miss Congeniality!  Daryl and I often quote favorite lines from it.  His favorite..."That's so ostentatious!"  I have too many favorite lines to list them, but I love the part of the movie when Sandra Bullock's pageant character is asked, "What is the one most important thing our society needs?"  She answers very seriously, "That would be harsher punishment for parole violators."  The audience is so quiet you hear crickets in the background.  And then she chimes in, "And world peace!"  The crowd goes wild, and besides, everyone knows this is the politically correct answer every pageant girl is suppose to give, right?  I die laughing every time because it's just too funny!

But really, what is peace?  Websters dictionary says it's a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions; harmony in personal relationships.  Actually, I like what Wikipedia says about peace..."a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict."  Don't you think that's what every person is looking for is peace from violent conflict? Conflict in broken relationships, work struggles, health issues, and most importantly, inner conflict of sin and self?

It's interesting that the word HARMONY seems to go hand in hand with PEACE.  As a musician I can't believe I'm going to say this but, going to a 5th grade band and orchestra concert is the perfect picture of NO HARMONY.  You want to cover your ears and yell, "Make it stop!"  It hurts!  When our relationships and hearts are out of tune and lacking peace, most of the time that's what we are pleading, "Just make this pain stop!"  No peace is painful!   Anyone who has lived through a war will tell you the greatest day comes when you hear, THE WAR IS OVER!  The conflict has ended and peace is beautiful.  The bible has a lot to say about peace.  It's definitely not something that comes from sitting on the beach in yoga pants, while taking deep breaths.  That's vacation!  Peace is much, much deeper and it only comes from one source.  From the Prince of Peace.  His name is Jesus.  And not  the mad-flannelgraph-Jesus, but the one who says, "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."  (Matt 11:28)  Even if we think we are only a "little bit out of tune" with God, it still makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks when we try to play it our way.  He has perfect pitch. Pure harmony comes only through Him.   

My mom used to tell us that peace is one thing that can't be counterfeited.  You can't fake peace.  And just like Sandra Bullock said, "I really do want world peace!"  I hope you have peace today as you read this.  If you don't and life feels more like that 5th grade orchestra concert, set aside some time to talk to God about it.  Peace does exist...and not just in the movies!