The word “shalom” is often understood as a deep sense of peace. It has origins in Jewish culture but has now expanded beyond religious adherents. As people of faith, many of us seek shalom in a personal sense, as well as shalom for the world and our communities.
You can crave peace in a world that lacks it, or you can make it
We live in a turbulent time. During moments like this, people are often seeking shalom. The current decade reminds me of the 1960s in many ways. We seem to be in a time of great upheaval and there is so much to worry about on all fronts.
Shalom, in this context, is an especially appealing dream for many in our world. But there is no shortcut to the peace that we yearn for. If we want it, we must make it be, and this involves doing the work to change the world.
Activist Angela Davis says we have to live as if the world we want is real. We must not only speak it into existence but also live it into existence.
It may feel like there is little we can do and little difference we can make, but that is only true on an individual level. When we work together, we can make greater strides toward bending the moral arc of the universe towards justice, and as far as I know, only true justice brings lasting peace.
Our ongoing journey to shalom
I was not raised United Methodist. I came into our tradition as a 20-year-old college student through my university Wesley Foundation. I was encouraged by the campus minister to do my research, and I did. One of the first things I learned was the deep and rich history of American Methodism, which includes countless instances of us promoting shalom and justice in the world.
Our denomination has struggled with many moral issues, from abolition and prohibition to the acceptance of Queer and Trans people in more recent years. For better or worse, we have always struggled to find our best and most moral way forward.
The journey to shalom in a personal sense and a communal sense has always been important to us. The two inherently go together. For what decent Christian could find personal peace for very long while our neighbors continue to suffer?
Shalom is not an excuse or an escape; it is an end goal. When we take shortcuts to get there, the result is fleeting. The true shalom that we are seeking is everlasting. So how do we get there? We get there one step, one day, one person, one tiny act of faith at a time.
It takes many people to make a lasting difference in the world
Everything that contributes to this shalom matters. History has shown us that people can make real and enormous strides on behalf of shalom in the world. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is a famous example of how much one movement can do for peace.
I recall watching a documentary about the march from Montgomery to Selma. As the people were travelling along the side of the road, I noticed that they were all carrying brown paper sandwich bags. I thought to myself, “I bet you Dr. King didn’t make and pack those sandwiches.”
It may seem small, but the ladies who stood in a church kitchen and packed those sandwiches made an active stride for shalom in the world. Sometimes it is this simple. Sometimes something as seemingly small as a sandwich in a brown paper bag can play a part in changing the world. This is shalom.
The hard truth is that while some of us may find shalom individually, the pursuit of shalom for the world might very well outlive all of us that are alive today. And yet we persist and hope because we are called to be world changers.
If we want shalom, we must choose it every day
If you want shalom in the world, you must pour into the world. From a biblical perspective, shalom is not about individuals, but about community.
There are so many ways we can change the world together. Every good deed is an act of faith and a testament to our belief in a God of justice and peace. Every good deed is another inch forward on the long journey of shalom.
Every piece, every part and every person matters. Thanks be to God.
Laquaan Malachi is a licensed local pastor in the Minnesota Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. He has a passion for people and justice, and is also an author, poet and spoken word artist whose work often includes themes surrounding justice and/or mental health.
This commentary was published on September 26, 2025. The contact is Laura Buchanan.
