Looking for Shalom

Yesterday we began a series called Shalom.  Shalom is more than a Jewish greeting or  cease-fire. It is a state of wholeness and completeness where everything is as it’s supposed to be.  It is every part of God’s creation living in harmony and mutual benefit. Sin vandalized and shattered the full shalom that was originally present in this world.  But it has not destroyed it. Remnants of shalom are all around us. We see them in natural beauty, in reconciliation between two people, in unconditional love, and in art or music that transports us to a place of Yes! - a place where things are how they’re supposed to be.

One of the best ways to embrace hope and joy is to look for the shalom that remains in this world.  The fragments of shalom are all around us. So I challenge you this week to keep your eyes peeled for glimpses of shalom.  Keep your ear to the ground for the sounds of shalom. It may come on the radio or on the drive home. Shalom might happen as you walk around your neighborhood, read a book, or catch up with a friend.  Look for examples of shalom and be sure to share them with someone. Tell a family member or friend. Share it with a co-worker. You don’t have to call it shalom. You can refer to it as “this cool thing that happened.”  Because that’s what shalom is and more. It is a powerful reminder that God is still present and his creation is still good.