May peace prevail on earth
Perhaps you’ve noticed the local Community Peace Garden at 417 N. Fourth Ave. in downtown Sandpoint. Years ago, members of First Presbyterian Church removed the chain-link fence. This opened the lawn area of the church yard. A design was created, Sandpoint Rotary built a gazebo, benches and picnic tables were added, fruit trees and bushes were planted, and raised garden beds now grow food for those who are hungry. The space is like an outdoor sanctuary, and many people read by the Little Free Library, or eat lunch at round picnic tables, or find a shady spot on a hot summer day. People make use of this space every day.
Everyone enjoyed the first ceremony, a dedication of the Peace Pole. It looks like a post, a static piece of wood with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” etched in 12 languages representing major world religions and every region on the planet. But looking at it through the eyes of the heart reminds us that it’s like acupuncture for the Earth. Spiritual energy emanates from the Community Peace Garden as the intention of prayers echo into the larger world.
A “Global Event Day” is planned called “100 Thousand Poets for Change.” The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force hosts this event in the Community Peace Garden on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 1 p.m to 3 p.m. and features an open mic so people can share poems and songs. (One must register, email losthorsepress@mindspring.com.) The theme for this year’s global event is peace.
Church lawns are a great place for people to “think globally, act locally,” especially when the theme is peace. Christ gives the gift of peace beyond understanding, breathes peace into his disciples, and transforms hearts and renews minds in and through the love of God. Love’s action invites us to connect in the Community Peace Garden to find encouragement, support, and celebration. Shared words and song embody God’s love, which takes shape as expressed through the voice of artists, musicians, and poets.
Each added element to the Community Peace Garden has ripple effects. Even a few tomatoes or bag of beans donated to the food bank helps someone in need find relief in the form of delicious, organic produce. It may not seem like much, just a few pounds of veggies, but even little things add up when done with care, especially as the food bank experiences record calls for assistance. But it’s not only veggies that go out. Each person becomes the ripple effect, more grounded, rooted, and energized as God lives, in and as their life.
Peace is much more than the absence of war. As we come to awareness of our essential nature, may peace prevail on Earth.
Andy Kennaly is pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 417 N. Fourth Ave., in Sandpoint. The church can be found online at fpcsandpoint.org.