People of peace living in a climate of war

Michelle Dueck

ACCORDING to Encarta, war is an "international armed conflict between two or more governments or states" (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2000). We are bombarded with images of war every day—through the Internet, television, magazines and newspapers. The images we see influence how we view war.

Since the beginning of time, war has been a part of our world. In Genesis 4:8-15 we read about the first murder committed and how the first real evil was evident in our world. Pictures of death, destruction and heartache have been on our mind since September 11 and, more recently, with the development in the Middle East. We ask ourselves, how could a war so big get started? Yet in the past some wars have been started over little things like broken teacups, rusty water pails, religion, land and family arguments.

Peace begins in the heart and embraces all life (Ephesians 2:14). Peace is a gift from God given because of His abounding grace; it’s a state of quiet confidence and security, and a call to respect all human relationships, rights, and situations.

People of peace can be peacemakers. They can reach out and help others caught in fear, hate, oppression and violence. Peacemaking involves prayer, love, kindness and understanding. Martin Luther King said, "Peace is not merely the absence of tension, but the presence of justice."

According to the MCC web page there are four aspects of peacemaking: helping others, not only to lead them to Christ, but to help them through their difficult situations; willingness to break down walls of bondage, evil and injustice of war and other unjust violence; building peaceful and safe communities; increasing cooperation, peace and love within communities. The main goal is the well-being of all people: "Love and faithfulness will meet; justice and peace will embrace. Humility’s loyalty will reach up from the earth, and God’s justice will look down from heaven" (Psalm 85:11-13).

However, we can’t forget about the many lives sacrificed for our freedom. As people of peace we should not take for granted our freedom, but realize the cost. Many Canadian men and women died fighting for freedom.

We should respect those who have lived through previous wars—not only because they suffered the loss of friends, but also to show our appreciation for their sacrifice. Remembrance Day shouldn’t be viewed as a day off school or work, but a day to remember the cost for being free. We should reflect on the many hundreds of lives that were lost. Sometimes it’s hard to do because we were never there, yet we can ask those around us who have lived through it.

A more recent example is the four Canadians who died in Afghanistan. They were fighting for us, to protect our country from terrorists. We shouldn’t let them be forgotten.

I think it’s sad that it costs people their lives to stop a fight. Why can we not realize that we are all people? We all have feelings, families, and love to be loved. Let’s look at these similarities and treat each other the way we want to be treated (the Golden Rule). Our differences are on the outside—skin colour, nationality, and social status. I wish our world could look past those differences and live in harmony with each other.

Michelle Dueck, a grade 10 student at Rosenort Collegiate, is the first place winner of the EMC Social Concerns Committee essay contest. She is part of Rosenort EMC.

Unfortunately, however, I’m one of the minorities. Few people respect other humans who are "different" from them. We see evidence of that in the way Natives and other ethnic groups are treated. Someday in the future we may realize it’s our fault the world is falling apart. We can’t put the blame on anyone else; it is the human race that causes great destruction.

This is one area where humans can’t escape the fact that the reason we are suffering is because we "deserve" it. It’s sad to think that most of the world hasn’t discovered that yet. Maybe someone needs to speak up on behalf of the people who don’t know that yet. But if people are too scared to risk their lives, then how will we stop this violence? People died for our freedom, why don’t we take that risk for others?

"Because of our faith in Christ and in human kind, we must apply our humble efforts to the construction of a more just and humane world. And I want to declare emphatically such a world is possible. To create this new society, we must present outstretched, friendly hands, with hatred, without rancour—even as we show great determination, never wavering in the defence of truth and justice. Because we know that seeds are not sown with clenched fists. To sow we must open our hands" (Adolfo Perez Esquivel, 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner, quoted in MCC’s commitment to peace pamphlet).

As we can see, war isn’t the solution to all our problems. In fact, sometimes it makes things worse. Yet it seems inevitable. How, then, should we react as people of peace? We can’t escape the wars going on, but we can help. How? How can we be people of peace, yet help in a war situation? We can send food, medicine, blankets, clothes, and supporting in prayer those suffering in war. We can send all available medical aid for wounded soldiers and refugees.

How can we make a difference in our small communities or where we are? There are a number of things we can do. We can grieve, sympathize and pray for those who have lost loved ones to war. The "war on terrorism" has cost the lives of thousands of people.

The Old Testament clearly points to the idea of peace. Genesis 1:28-31 talks about peace in nature; 3:8a refers to fellowship between God, nature and people; 2:24-25 shows intimate communion between man and woman. "The spirit of the Lord God is upon men, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted: He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn" (Isaiah 61:1-2).

The Beatitudes also point toward peacemaking and loving enemies. Jesus says, "Peacemakers are the children of God." In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus again calls his followers to go the extra mile, to return good for evil, and to voluntarily and persistently love all people, including enemies.

For the time being, we can pray. Pray for those involved in war, those who are victims of war, and their families. Let’s pray that peace would be restored to our world once again. Then, let’s act on our thoughts of peace. We must move toward a happy and peaceful world. We don’t want our children to go through the same things others are going through. So let’s start today. It won’t happen overnight, but we can plant little seeds of hope in our darkened world.

SCC essay contest winners announced

Three Manitobans—Michelle Dueck of Morris, Joanna Plett of Arborg, and Renée Dueck of Arborg—have finished in the top three spots in the EMC Social Concerns Committee essay contest.

The contest had the topic Living as People of Peace in a Climate of War. Announced in February and with a deadline of April 26, the contest was open to young people, high school and older. There were 13 entrants, most coming from an ethics class in Rosenort with Arlin Scharfenberg as teacher. All entries were by Manitobans.

Michelle, in grade 10, will receive a cheque for $150; Joanna and Renée, each in grade 11, will receive $75 each.

The writings of the three will be published in The Messenger. Michelle’s article appears in full in this issue; the writings of Joanna and Renée will appear in the future.

Contest judging was by three SCC members—Doris Penner, Ardith Frey, and Wally Doerksen. Two SCC members excused themselves: Terry Smith (because of his work with The Messenger) and Delmer Plett (because a daughter was a contestant).

The committee was grateful for the many entries; it will be in touch with each of the entrants. In future, it is hoped that people from other provinces will also enter the contest. When the next contest will be held is yet to be decided.

More information about the work of SCC can be found by following the link on the EMC website www.emconf.ca.


	Michelle Dueck		Joanna Plett		Renée Dueck