As I was composing my little “Declaration of Peace” the other day, I found myself wondering how I could possibly fulfill such a pledge — to never initiate force and to approach everyone in a spirit of “Love My Neighbor” — until I got to the last four words: so help me God.
We have an innate understanding that this universe is in the hands of something bigger than us, and we spend our lives seeking that someone, often in all the wrong places, such as in the form of other humans.
Governments try to assume that “bigger than us” role, but they cannot, no matter how much they cajole and threaten and worse, because in the end they are comprised of other fallible humans, after all.
They cannot take the place of the authentic Higher Power, who instructed us to Love God and Love Our Neighbors and even to love our enemies. When we get right down to it, we are simply incapable of such a love within our own meager means. In need of assistance, we ask, “so, help me, God.”
As the apostle Paul wrote to the people of Philippi, I can indeed fulfill my declaration of peace, or love my enemies, because I can do all things with the help of Christ, who strengthens me.
