"Let's All Play the Instrument of Peace"
by Joey Capuano
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Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not seek so much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
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In my life, this Prayer has always been one of the most beautiful and calming Prayers. Whenever I read it, or hear music put to the Prayer, I just feel such calm and love. I think it's because, as a musician, hearing the lines "Make me an instrument of your peace" provides such a cool metaphor with an even more important idea.
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This week, we are reeling from yet another act of gun violence at one of our country's schools, except this time, it happened right here at an elementary school in Waynesboro. The children, faculty, staff, and families of Westwood Elementary School and Waynesboro City Schools had to endure the biggest nightmare that a community can face - gun violence at school. This brings one question to my mind: Why?
There is so much violence in our current society, and the push for retributive acts that involve using force and violence is often the response of many people in the public. I saw multiple people advocating for the arming of teachers on social media this week. I was greatly saddened by this desire and response of some people. I'm sorry, but it is inconceivable to me to be picturing a kindergarten teacher, leading a game of duck - duck - goose, or leading story time with their kiddos, with a gun strapped to their waist. Why would we want this?
Then, I saw this article, with the use of the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi, and it got me thinking about so many world leaders that advocated for peace. Think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - “Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” And Mohandas Gandhi: "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind." These are ideas that are beautiful in meaning, full of Faith, Hope, and Love. But why do we as a society many times forget these ideals, pursuing violence as a response to violence?
These ideals of peace are not only common among world leaders throughout history and many modern leaders. They are also shown through many Biblical Verses. Even more, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, written in Matthew 5: 39, shows that He requires peace of us, and despises retaliation: "But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; . . ."
This really isn't optional. How do we respond to an act of violence like what happened at Westwood Elementary School this week? Through peace. Through coming together. Through love.
More ammunition isn't the answer. The answers, as they always have been, are Faith, Hope, Love, and peace.
God, please be with the whole community, and especially Westwood Elementary School and all of Waynesboro City Schools.
God bless us, everyone,
Joey
