Peace with Police starts with Us

In the past few weeks in the United States, there have been numerous protests about the way the national law enforcement officials have been treating individuals of color. At times I’ve found myself floating along with the tide of where the media is taking us - anger at Police officers; indignation over those who would commit crimes in the first place putting themselves and police officers in danger; or frustration with those who refuse to protest peacefully.

It occurred to me as I thought about this recently, that going along with the tide of public thought never accomplishes any good. Sitting around debating this issue or getting angry or indignant never solves anything. I was reminded of words form a popular, well known American folk song came to mind and while simple, they express a beautiful, much needed sentiment.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth,
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me,
Let this be the moment now;
With every step I take,
Let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

Jill Jackson and Sy Miller wrote these words in 1955 at a time of much strife in the world and tumultuous race relations in the United States.When speaking of the song, Jackson wrote that she was inspired to write this when, during a period of great sadness in her life, she discovered the “life saving joy of God’s peace and unconditional love.” This songs message began to take hold on a summer evening when 180 teenagers of all different races and religions met on a mountain in California at a workshop. They joined arm in arm and forming a circle, sung this song of brotherhood seeking to create a dialog and a climate for world peace and understanding.

Jackson’s words were really echoing a centuries-old law of behavior, that was given to us by Christ Jesus, known as ‘The Golden Rule’: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”(The Bible, Matthew 7:12) In other words, the love, the peace, the forgiveness, the compassion, the kindness begins with each one of us. As we express those qualities ourselves, we will begin to see them reflected back at us. Instead, if we meet someone with aggression, suspicion, distrust, fear or anger, it is likely that we will see those reflected back at us in others behavior. It is a pretty simple rule.

Let peace, understanding, goodness, grace, compassion, and love begin in this moment with each of us.