The power of peace: needed now

Bringing a spiritual perspective to daily life

The continuing news reports of untempered rivalry and conflict between India and Pakistan point out an urgent need for people all over the world to join in active prayer for effective mediation of this dispute. Such prayer, acknowledging the supreme power of divine Mind, can give energy and determination to everyone who has the ability and opportunity to lessen tensions in this area. It empowers them to engage in active mediation rather than war.

War between these parties, especially a nuclear conflict, should be unthinkable. It is self-evident that nothing could be gained by this. The misery that would result is unimaginable. Mrs. Eddy, the founder of this paper, once wrote: "The pent-up elements of mortal mind need no terrible detonation to free them. Envy, rivalry, hate need no temporary indulgence that they be destroyed through suffering; they should be stifled from lack of air and freedom" ("Miscellaneous Writings, 1883–1896," pg. 356).

How can we "stifle" these things effectively? We need to recognize that the power of peace is actually greater than the temptation of war. Peace is actually a power; it's not something vulnerable. Christ Jesus was announced as the Prince of Peace.

When we look at his life, we don't find something frail, vulnerable, weak, defenseless. Not at all. We find a strong spiritual force at work nullifying hate, rebuking storms – natural and mental – and restoring calm. His crucifixion and resurrection reveal that the worst passions and hatreds can be nullified through divine power.

Paul urged readers of one of his letters to have the mind of Christ. He said, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5). Let this sense of the power of God, the present, active, authoritative, supreme power of God, good, rule in your consciousness. Let this overrule fear and doubt, passion and hate. Recognize the fact that this divine spiritual force is operating now, everywhere.

This universal, all-embracing power of God is able to speak to everyone in their own language as on the day of Pentecost. What does this mean? Divine ideas can reach us all in ways we can understand. To me, it suggests that these ideas can penetrate and break through to every human consciousness and show the way to peace, and provide ideas that will lead to resolution and mediation that will take all parties away from the brink of war.

Mrs. Eddy also wrote, "Midst the falling leaves of old-time faiths, above the frozen crust of creed and dogma, the divine Mind-force, filling all space and having all power, upheaves the earth" ("Miscellaneous Writings, 1883–1896," pg. 331). Doesn't this give you a feel for the fact that no matter how entrenched different points of view are – no matter how strong willed or unalterable people's stances claim to be – this divine "Mind-force" can "upheave" them and lead people intelligently to productive and peace-restoring positions?

That being the case, our prayers for peace are essential. We can counter the terrible sense of the inevitability of war, and do it with a growing appreciation of this divine Mind-force that is at work within the hearts of every man, woman, and child today. This divine Mind-force can help invigorate a demand for peace, a demand to move away from the brink of war to fair arbitration and resolution of national conflict.

Jesus taught his followers to pray, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6:10). God's will is a divine force for good. There is no need for war. It should indeed be "stifled" by the realization that peace is possible. The force of peace is at work; we can let it be at work in us, and insist on seeing it at work throughout the world.

Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought

all our works in us.

Isaiah 26:12