Courage, Dear Heart. Be A Peacemaker.
“But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, “Courage, dear heart,” and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan’s, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.”
~ C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
C.S. Lewis penned beautiful words about an albatross that offered encouragement to Lucy, the youngest of her sibling group. Jesus shared a blessing about peacemakers in his sermon on the mount. The words of Jesus remain true today, especially in the midst of national turmoil and unrest. Peace Promise seeks to embody the peace of Jesus within the atrocity of human trafficking and its residual effects of intimate partner violence, substance abuse and addiction, and mental health diagnoses. These are large topics and we can easily forget the very particular names, faces, and lives that are directly impacted by this kind of destruction.
Patty Seaman, Peace Promise Executive Director, does not forget. Her phone is a lifeline for local women who reach out to Peace Promise for help and support. Patty frequently finds herself in the midst of potentially life-threatening environments to offer care and support to women who want to live a life of freedom. Patty is a peacemaker in the midst of chaos, heartache, and loss. Her car transports women to therapy and medical appointments. The backseat of her car is often filled with a woman’s entire belongings, almost three decades of living consolidated in three black trash bags. Patty shares her prayerful and loving presence in emergency and hospital rooms. When circumstances take an unexpected turn, she attends funerals, passes tissues, and offers an encircling embrace. When unhealthy choices and addiction places a woman in the crosshairs of violence, Patty wraps the woman in an oversized jacket and escorts her to the safety of a warm car. Being a peacemaker is not for the faint of heart. Forgiveness and prayers are also extended to the perpetrators of violence. Patty is firm and gracious with those who cause harm. She invites change and directly asks, “May I pray for you?”
Being a peacemaker requires courage and trust in the One who calls us to walk alongside local women on their journey into a new way of living. January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. If you have ever wondered how you might make a difference or help bring peace into our community, please consider giving a donation to Peace Promise. If you are already a monthly hope-giver or donated to Peace Promise, thank you for your financial gifts and prayers. We are deeply grateful. The frontline work that Patty does is made possible by the prayerful generosity of many volunteers, churches, and businesses. Thank you for your faithfulness in times of economic uncertainty. Together, we are offering hope and restoration. May you and your family know and experience abiding peace today and as the new year unfolds. May the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:7 (NRSV). Courage, dear heart.
Written by a dedicated Peace Promise volunteer.