Swords into Plowshares

From fighting our brothers to loving our neighbors

Our family went to REI today. Our son needed some waterproof gloves for playing outside this winter. The search came down to two different pair and we said yes. Because one pair was needed because they match dad’s and matching makes us best friends and the other pair was actually waterproof. And as we went up to the checkout register I recognized the ginger-haired associate as the same person who had sold us camping fuel earlier in the summer — Kevin — and told us about how his parents had taken him to the same state park we were headed to every summer when he was growing up. And so we had the opportunity to tell him that our kids loved it and we are going back next year. Yep — our kids favorite activity was just digging in the dirt there, too.

Isaiah son of Amoz saw this message about Judah and Jerusalem: 

In the last days
the mountain on which the Lord’s Temple stands
    will become the most important of all mountains.
It will be raised above the hills,
    and people from all nations will come streaming to it.

Many nations will come and say,
    “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the Temple of the God of Jacob.
Then God will teach us his ways,
    and we will obey his teachings.”
His teachings will go out from Jerusalem;
    the message of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.

He will settle arguments among the nations
    and will make decisions for many nations.
Then they will make their swords into plows
    and their spears into hooks for trimming trees.
Nations will no longer fight other nations,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

Come, family of Jacob,
    and let us follow the way of the Lord.

When Isaiah talks about going up to the mountain of the Lord, he anticipates God teaching us his ways and then, in turn, we will obey His teachings. It’s simple: listen and obey. In a world that uses God as an argument for war and division — Isaiah paints us a picture of peace: a world where God is settling arguments among the nations and nations will no longer fight other nations or train for war anymore. This is a vision of peace. Shalom at global scale. Isaiah calls out to his brothers and sisters and says Come… let us follow the way of the Lord.

The Melbourne Parish Council commissioned painter Michael Cooke to celebrate 100 years since the Armistice:

Michael Cooke Swords Into Plowshares 2018

I went to a Quaker university for seminary. Many of my friends are anti-war. I come from a family with a long, proud tradition of military service. I am not anti-war. But I don’t believe that war is good — just sometimes necessary in the face of evil. I love the image Michael captured of a soldier, exhausted by his fighting, embracing a patch of dirt. It glows beneath him. New life springs up. It looks like he’s found peace he can start to rebuild on.

In our lives, whether marked by military service or not, I think we might find ourselves caught up in all sorts of battles this holiday season. The fight for your life. A failing marriage. An office politic.

My question to you as we get into this season is this: are you willing let go of your weapons — a sharp tongue, your power, your ability to outmaneuver — and follow the way of peace? Peace starts at home. It starts within you and me. If we can find inner peace this season, perhaps we can find peace in the relationships closest to us. And if we can create families of peace, what might happen then?

This holiday season, may you and I lay down our arms and embrace a patch of dirt that we cultivate and love to life. Hang those Christmas lights this year. Bake your neighbors some cinnamon rolls. Add your estranged uncle to your holiday card mailing list. Accept your coworker’s apology.

By its light the dark nights of this holiday season will be merry and bright.