“Peace, man!” said the bearded kid who picked me up while hitch-hiking. I looked over and replied in kind “Peace”. As he drove the kid started to tell me where he was heading, “There is a peace rally in Grant Park tonight, it is going to be huge. I heard even Abby Hoffman is going to be there.” I knew about the rally in downtown Chicago and didn’t know if I would be going, so I just said, “Yeah, very cool.” He turned to me and asked, “Where are you heading, why don’t you come.” I shrugged and said, “I might get there but right now if you can drop me anywhere near 63rd Street, that would be awesome.” He nodded and I pulled out a joint and held it up, he nodded in agreement again as I lit it.
I was on a weekend from the Catholic Seminary I was attending and had gotten a ride along Archer Ave from one of my classmate’s parents to 91st. I was heading to a friend’s house who lived in Willowbrook, a South Side suburb of Chicago. I spent most my off weekends with friends since my parents had moved from our West Side home to live in Upper Michigan. Most of the people I stayed with were classmates but this weekend I was staying with a friend I had met at a party, I had lied to everyone about where I was going to be.
My driver, I now knew as Benji, was better than his word, he drove me right to my friend’s house. As I got out of the car, I flashed him the peace sign and he said, “I hope to see you at the rally, bro.” Nodding I headed up the steps to a modest home that had probably been built after the war, like so many others. As I was about to knock the door flew open and a girl I didn’t recognize was standing there. She said, “You must be John!” and hugged me. I am sure she noticed my surprise and smiled, “My name is Steph, I am Bobby’s sister.” Taking me by the hand she led me into a smoke-filled room.
As I entered I saw at least 6 or 7 people all seated around a Hookah and smelled the hash being shared. Bobby raised his hand and coughed out, “John, you made it.” Offering me a ‘hose’ I took a long drag as I sat down. I wasn’t too shocked that the conversation was all about the rally and I soon found out that Bobby and his sister intended to go. I was not only invited, I was drafted to come if I liked it or not. Talk turned to the war, as it did so often in those days. Everyone in the room had an opinion about peace and how to achieve it. Soon we all packed into a mini bus and headed downtown, the word “Peace” was printed on the van’s side next to a peace sign.
That was only the beginning of my search for peace. I marched and protested. I read books by Gandhi and the Dali Lama. The more I sought it the more elusive it became. Within a few years, the drugs and the booze became more important than the ideals. Any inner peace I once held was washed away in a sea of alcohol and in a mountain of powder. Peace just became a word, like love. It had no meaning.
The real problem was that I never knew peace because I never knew Jesus. Because like love, you can never really have it in your life until He becomes the center of it. Jesus said this, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give it as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) But can it be that simple?
I think the answer to that is, “no and then again, yes”. Because you accept and believe in Jesus might not mean you are going to find the world a more peaceful place, that isn’t part of the promise. In fact, a few chapters later in the book of John, He says this, “I told you these things, so you may have peace, in this world you will have trouble. But I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33)
He had just told been assuring them that things were soon to be turned upside down. The peace they had being around Him was going to be taken away. So much so they would lose faith but something would happen that would bring peace again. Something so incredible and opposite of all they and a lot of us can believe. He was about to bring peace into this world through death on a cross. An act of grace and mercy so huge that it echoes down into every life that accepts it.
My sin and your sin that can take every ounce of peace from our lives was carried by Him and washed away in His blood. Jesus told His disciples and He tells us now, when you can accept My grace through the cross, only then can true peace enter your life. A miracle? It is! But the cool thing is… there is more!
The story doesn’t end there. Three days later Jesus overcomes the one thing that steals all our peace, death. To top it off He is coming again! The apostle Paul says this, “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17) Saved by His grace and offered a place in His kingdom. Peace right now and peace eternal. How cool is that!
I went to the rally but it certainly did not end up peaceful. A riot broke out and soon police with tear gas were scattering us all. Sound familiar. Still happening today around the world no matter what side of the political scene you are on. The world does not know or offer us peace. Jesus does. If we have a personal relationship with the Prince of Peace, the Holy Spirit will fill us with a peace no worldly trouble can take away. To that I say, “Peace, man!” and finally really mean it!
Blessings John
9/29/17