Feet of Peace

How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of the one who brings peace, says the prophet, and I would add “along the beach, in the care facility, in the church sanctuary, along the streets in the neighborhood, and in the grocery stores.” Too many feet are the bearers of bad tidings. The feet of the peaceful ones are, indeed, welcome, winsome and healing. When I hear footsteps approaching, I long for them to be the steps of peace bringers, peacemakers, peacekeepers, peace seekers.
 
I am once again struck with the feet of the very ones in our congregation, whose work in the world is so often to bring peace. One has come alongside several families displaced by the SoCal fires. still looking to find longer term housing. Another helps to raise money for fresh water in Africa. Someone else had been caring for family members who are ill and another has gone to the side of one in grief and despair. Each one has taken herself to the place of being peace for someone else—at home, on-line, in the world around her—in speaking words of peace or in just showing up wordlessly with peaceful presence.

Jesus, looking over Jerusalem, sighed saying, “Would that you knew the things that made for peace!” We all echo that same sigh. And we do what we can to be the beautiful feet that bring the kind of peace that Jesus promises.