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Seeking Peace: Notes and Conversations along the Way
Where can we find peace of heart and mind--with ourselves, with others, and with God? Arnold says most people are looking in the wrong direction. In a culture that bombards us with feel-good-about-yourself spirituality, Seeking Peace is sure to satisfy a deep hunger. There is a peace greater than self-fulfilment, a peace greater than nations no longer at war. But it will demand a relentless pursuit kept up only by hope and courage, vision and commitment.
Seeking Peace explores many facets of humankind's ageless search for peace. It plumbs a wealth of spiritual traditions and draws on the wisdom of some exceptional (and some very ordinary) people who have found peace in surprising places.
Seeking Peace explores many facets of humankind's ageless search for peace. It plumbs a wealth of spiritual traditions and draws on the wisdom of some exceptional (and some very ordinary) people who have found peace in surprising places.
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1998
13 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
About the author
Johann Christoph Arnold
43 books64 followersPeople have come to expect sound advice from Johann Christoph Arnold, an award-winning author with over two million copies of his twelve books in print in more than twenty languages. A noted speaker and writer on marriage, parenting, and end-of-life issues, Arnold was a senior pastor of the Bruderhof, a movement of Christian communities, until his death in April 2017.
Arnold’s message was shaped by encounters with great peacemakers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, César Chavez, and John Paul II. Together with paralyzed police officer Steven McDonald, Arnold started the Breaking the Cycle program, working with students at hundreds of public high schools to promote reconciliation through forgiveness. This work also brought him to conflict zones from Northern Ireland to Rwanda to the Middle East. Closer to home, he served as chaplain for the local sheriff’s department.
Born in Great Britain in 1940 to German refugees, Arnold spent his boyhood years in South America, where his parents found asylum during the war; he immigrated to the United States in 1955. He and his wife, Verena, have eight children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Arnold’s message was shaped by encounters with great peacemakers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Teresa, Dorothy Day, César Chavez, and John Paul II. Together with paralyzed police officer Steven McDonald, Arnold started the Breaking the Cycle program, working with students at hundreds of public high schools to promote reconciliation through forgiveness. This work also brought him to conflict zones from Northern Ireland to Rwanda to the Middle East. Closer to home, he served as chaplain for the local sheriff’s department.
Born in Great Britain in 1940 to German refugees, Arnold spent his boyhood years in South America, where his parents found asylum during the war; he immigrated to the United States in 1955. He and his wife, Verena, have eight children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 22, 2008
Wow, this is one book I read during a flurry of reading that addressed where I was changing in how I understand and live out my faith in God. I was being attracted to things that are more tuned into the idea of peace and how we as Christians should be peace makers and keepers in the world around us. It addressed some of what I was learning about how we Americans have a history of trying to keep peace through violence instead of negotiation. Not that we like or advocate war, but it has had a big place in how solve things. It added to my understanding of humanity, and gave me things to consider about myself and who I want to be.
December 7, 2015
I chose this book specifically to read as we approached the season of Advent (Roman Catholic Church).
The essays were relevant, compassionate, instructive and full of wisdom.
The author name dropped in the best possible tradition, Dorothy Day, Elias Chacour, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, the Berrigan brothers, Wendell Berry, Thich Nhat Hanh and many more wonderful, wise people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each essay as well as the book as a whole work.
This book is one to re-visit from time to time especially in these troubled days where peace seems to be out of reach for most of the world.
Highly recommended.
The essays were relevant, compassionate, instructive and full of wisdom.
The author name dropped in the best possible tradition, Dorothy Day, Elias Chacour, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, the Berrigan brothers, Wendell Berry, Thich Nhat Hanh and many more wonderful, wise people. I thoroughly enjoyed reading each essay as well as the book as a whole work.
This book is one to re-visit from time to time especially in these troubled days where peace seems to be out of reach for most of the world.
Highly recommended.
August 24, 2022
A delightful book. Some parts felt powerful and insightful and some felt less so for me, though at no point did I lose interest. He was not afraid to pull wisdom and experience from people from all over the world and a wide variety of denominations and faiths. Since this book was a free in its ebook form from Plough, there’s really no reason why you shouldn’t read it
August 12, 2014
I read this in English; "Seeking Peace"; the 'message' is strong, the testimonies a litlle bit dated.
I give it 2 to 4 stars. Here the end of the book: "In a passage in The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky writes with similar hope and faith. The conversation is between Father Zossima (when he is still a young man) and a mysterious stranger: “Heaven,” the stranger said, “lies hidden within all of us – here it lies hidden in me now, and if I will it, it will be revealed to me tomorrow and for all time.” I looked at him. He was speaking with great emotion and gazing mysteriously at me, as if he were questioning me. “And that we are all responsible to all for all, apart from our own sins, you were quite right in thinking that, and it is wonderful how you could comprehend it in all its significance at once. And in very truth, so soon as men understand that, the kingdom of heaven will be for them not a dream, but a living reality.” “And when,” I cried out to him bitterly, “when will that come to pass? And will it ever come to pass? Is not it simply a dream of ours?” “What then, you don’t believe it,” he said. “You preach it and don’t believe it yourself? Believe me, this dream, as you call it, will come to pass without doubt; it will come, but not now, for every process has its law. It’s a spiritual, psychological process. To transform the world, to recreate it afresh, men must turn into another path psychologically. Until you have become really, in actual fact, a brother to everyone, brotherhood will not come to pass. No sort of scientific teaching, no kind of common interest, will ever teach people to share property and privileges with equal consideration for all. Everyone will think his share too small, and they will always be envying, complaining, and attacking one another. You ask when it will come to pass. It will come to pass, but first we have to go through the period of isolation.” “What do you mean by isolation?” I asked him. “Why, the isolation that prevails everywhere, above all in our age – it has not fully developed, it has not reached its limit yet. For everyone strives to keep his individuality as apart as possible. Everyone wishes to secure the greatest possible fullness of life for himself and forgets that true security is to be found in social solidarity rather than in isolated individual efforts. But this terrible individualism must inevitably have an end, and suddenly all will understand how unnaturally they are separated from one another. It will be the spirit of the time, and people will marvel that they have sat so long in darkness without seeing the light. And then the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the heavens. “But until then, we must keep the banner flying. Sometimes,
even if he has to do it alone, and his conduct seems to be crazy, a man must set an example, and so draw people’s souls out of their solitude, and spur them to some act of brotherly love, that the great idea may not die."
I give it 2 to 4 stars. Here the end of the book: "In a passage in The Brothers Karamazov, Fyodor Dostoevsky writes with similar hope and faith. The conversation is between Father Zossima (when he is still a young man) and a mysterious stranger: “Heaven,” the stranger said, “lies hidden within all of us – here it lies hidden in me now, and if I will it, it will be revealed to me tomorrow and for all time.” I looked at him. He was speaking with great emotion and gazing mysteriously at me, as if he were questioning me. “And that we are all responsible to all for all, apart from our own sins, you were quite right in thinking that, and it is wonderful how you could comprehend it in all its significance at once. And in very truth, so soon as men understand that, the kingdom of heaven will be for them not a dream, but a living reality.” “And when,” I cried out to him bitterly, “when will that come to pass? And will it ever come to pass? Is not it simply a dream of ours?” “What then, you don’t believe it,” he said. “You preach it and don’t believe it yourself? Believe me, this dream, as you call it, will come to pass without doubt; it will come, but not now, for every process has its law. It’s a spiritual, psychological process. To transform the world, to recreate it afresh, men must turn into another path psychologically. Until you have become really, in actual fact, a brother to everyone, brotherhood will not come to pass. No sort of scientific teaching, no kind of common interest, will ever teach people to share property and privileges with equal consideration for all. Everyone will think his share too small, and they will always be envying, complaining, and attacking one another. You ask when it will come to pass. It will come to pass, but first we have to go through the period of isolation.” “What do you mean by isolation?” I asked him. “Why, the isolation that prevails everywhere, above all in our age – it has not fully developed, it has not reached its limit yet. For everyone strives to keep his individuality as apart as possible. Everyone wishes to secure the greatest possible fullness of life for himself and forgets that true security is to be found in social solidarity rather than in isolated individual efforts. But this terrible individualism must inevitably have an end, and suddenly all will understand how unnaturally they are separated from one another. It will be the spirit of the time, and people will marvel that they have sat so long in darkness without seeing the light. And then the sign of the Son of Man will be seen in the heavens. “But until then, we must keep the banner flying. Sometimes,
even if he has to do it alone, and his conduct seems to be crazy, a man must set an example, and so draw people’s souls out of their solitude, and spur them to some act of brotherly love, that the great idea may not die."
August 11, 2015
The passage that I really liked:
(Freda's words)
'SEEK until you FIND, and DON'T GIVE UP. Pray, too, even if you think you don't believe, because God will help you through. DON'T GIVE UP, above all, avoid the temptation that distract you from what you know you really long for. If you do fall. PICK YOURSELF UP AGAIN and get back on the track.'
Am I peaceful after reading this book. Well... I am not. But I do long, I do seek, I will not GIVE UP, and I will get back on the track =]
Because hope dies last.
'Hugo' said my father, ' both you and I know that a person can live a very long time without food. But I tell you, a person cannot live a single day without hope. This oil will kindle a flame of hope. NEVER let hope die out. Not here; not anywhere. Remember this.'
(Freda's words)
'SEEK until you FIND, and DON'T GIVE UP. Pray, too, even if you think you don't believe, because God will help you through. DON'T GIVE UP, above all, avoid the temptation that distract you from what you know you really long for. If you do fall. PICK YOURSELF UP AGAIN and get back on the track.'
Am I peaceful after reading this book. Well... I am not. But I do long, I do seek, I will not GIVE UP, and I will get back on the track =]
Because hope dies last.
'Hugo' said my father, ' both you and I know that a person can live a very long time without food. But I tell you, a person cannot live a single day without hope. This oil will kindle a flame of hope. NEVER let hope die out. Not here; not anywhere. Remember this.'
April 4, 2008
The foreword of the book says it all: Peace has nothing to do with passivity or resignation. It is not for the spineless or self-absorbed, or for those content with a quiet life. Peace demands that we live honestly before God, before others, and in the light of our own conscience. It does not come without the burden of duty, for it demands deads of love.
March 2, 2015
While I appreciated learning about the Bruderhof and their mission, I found this book to be basically a series of sermons. There was a lot of repetition. I did find the chapters on Service, Action, and Justice to be inspirational. The author quotes his grandfather often & draws on the thoughts/words of spiritual leaders of many faiths such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc.
January 30, 2010
Absolutely Loved this book. It was absolutely inspirational and it can be applied to everyday life. Love it love it love it and it's something that I will be re-reading.
June 29, 2013
I can say .. Touched My Heart .. I already considered it as a Ref.
October 8, 2013
Stories - many of them tragic - of finding peace. Easy to read, and engaging, as well as thoughtful.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews