Let it Begin with Me
A strange thing happened recently at church one Sunday during the Prayers of the People as the Rev. Lisa Neilson prayed, “We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world,” and we all responded, “That there may be justice and peace on the earth.”
Now that I reflect on my experience at the time, it was not so much a “strange moment” as it was a “Holy moment” because that responsorial phrase stuck in my head throughout the service and then followed me home. Later in the day, I googled the contemporary hymn containing the phrase, “peace on the earth,” and my search took me back to 1955.
This was the year that a Christmas hymn was written by husband-and-wife songwriting duo Jill Jackson Miller and Sy Miller called, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.” The song provides a simple reminder to be the change we want to see in the world: "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
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 ev'ry 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
Once again, God has reminded me that the only person I have the power to change is…me. So, let there be peace on the earth here, now, today and let it begin with me. Amen.
