Shalom
Most of us know shalom as the Hebrew word for peace. While peace is an appropriate translation for shalom it is not the only translation option. Shalom according to C.L. Seow, the author of my Hebrew text book, A Grammar for Biblical Hebrew, offered up three options for translation:
Peace.
Wholeness.
Well-being.
Even writing these words brings tears to my eyes. How beautiful. Imagine if we were able to experience this in ourselves, in relationship with others, and in this world? I cannot help but hope for this type of being for us all.
Peace.
Wholeness.
Well-being.
God wants something more for us and has made a way—a way for us to live as more, not have or possess more. No, rather God has made a way for us to live more fully, as who God created us to be. Live more wholly, in genuine relationship with one another and with God. And to be well—in mind, body, spirit, relationship, and world.
In my last post, I cited Frederick Buechner from his September 8th meditation where he wrote, “…that for Jesus peace seems to have meant not the absence of struggle but the presence of love” (Buechner, p. 240). A powerfully beautiful statement that highlights the power that undergirds this world—love. A force so strong that not even struggle or strife can destroy the peace that comes from love.
Buechner writes earlier in that same meditation a definition of shalom I love: “But in Hebrew peace, shalom, means fullness, means having everything you need to be wholly and happily yourself” (Buechner, p. 239).
In the past few months I have been pondering what I need to “be wholly and happily” myself and what this world might need for us to all “be wholly and happily” ourselves, as God intends. I don’t believe Buechner means “happily” to be what we often think happy means. I bought a new pair of shoes and that made me happy but they didn’t bring me true, holy and lasting joy. I read Buechner’s “happily” to mean “joyfully.” For joy, like peace, can be sustained even in the midst of the darkness.
This week, we are pondering peace in the midst of a world that seems anything but, in a world that glitters and shines bright selling us more, more, more. I will not lie and tell you that I don’t buy into this too but I find myself longing for, something more, not more material things, but rather more holy things. I want more of the things that that bring me closer to God, to my authentic joyful self, and others. Things that open my heart to more love. I wonder, do you long for these things too?
Peace.
Wholeness.
Well Being.
Buechner’s lovely definition is followed up by the quote I first introduced —reminding us that shalom is not fluffy and that life is certainly not without struggle, strife, and suffering. But God’s shalom, is a peace, a wholeness, a fullness, a well being that breaks into our world, meets us in the midst of our worst days; the days we lose our loved ones, the diagnosis happens, senseless violence occurs again, and hatred seems to continue to win. It is a peace that can only be described as one that surpasses all understanding. A peace that finds us and sits with us when we do not know what to do next, how to feel, or where to go next. It is a peace that is not afraid of the mess, rather it was designed for it. A peace stemming from the purest of Love.
God’s shalom meets us time and time again where we are. A “peace that surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:6).
God’s peace never comes without love because it is fueled by it.
As we continue through this season of Advent, allowing God to prepare our hearts, may we ponder those things we need to experience shalom. May we be willing to join in God’s work, helping to bring shalom (peace, wholeness, well being, fullness) for this whole world and all its people.
Shalom,
Margaret
