Go Grovel? Radical Wisdom for Pursuing Peace

I know that many of us are terrified and upset and want to fight the forces that have triumphed over this land and so many other lands around the world right now. 

And yet.  Here’s some peculiar  and powerful words from our proverbial wisdom tradition that offer another way out -- do you want peace? Less conflict? 

Don’t pick a fight. 

Go grovel. 

Humble yourself. 

Let go and pursue peace, whatever it takes. 

Do not let a single night sleep go by before going on your knees to do everything you can to solve the conflict and begin again for a better peaceful future. 

Whether we like or agree with this tip or not, it showed up earlier this week in the sixth chapter of Proverbs. right before the suggestion that it’s wise to learn from ants how to be industrious and less lazy - two other creatures are named, in the context of this call for conflict resolution - at any cost: 

The chapter is a series of life tips supposedly spoken by King Solomon, or some other parent -  to one’s child:

“If you have been trapped by the words of your mouth,

Snared by the words of your mouth.

Do this, then, my son, to extricate yourself,

For you have come into the power of your fellow:

Go grovel—and badger your fellow;

Give your eyes no sleep,

Your pupils no slumber.

Save yourself like a deer out of the hand of a hunter

Like a bird out of the hand of a fowler”

Prv. 6:1-5

It’s this rare Hebrew form that really strikes me today. While awful wars wage on today around the world with refusal for ceasefires, no will to pause for peace, to save innocent lives and to pave a new path for possible futures --  these words seem aspirational and astonishing: 

לֵ֥ךְ הִ֝תְרַפֵּ֗ס  Go grovel

This idea is so counter cultural to the macho hubris that defines our times -- it highlights the idea that seeking peace requires not just passive desire but active pursuit, tough truth and painful deals, often involving leaving one's comfort zone, with humility, and taking bold actions to save lives and avoid continued conflict. 

Who among the world’s leaders would do anything like this right now? Who would choose humility and disgrace over power and ego? 

And yet the words of Proverbs ring loud like bells today -- and so painful.  True pursuit of peace entails overcoming personal pride and rigid principles, which often mask concerns about honor. By using such a strong phrase, Proverbs emphasizes the significant effort and self-reflection needed to genuinely strive for reconciliation - as the only worthwhile commitment to peace.

It begins at home, in our hearts, on our screens, in our own small or big, local and domestic, neighborly or work-related conflicts. Where we hold a grudge - and sometimes they are legitimate - the solution may just be to let it go, and go our knees and try as hard as we can to try another way.  Perhaps it’s like the notion of the other cheek? Perhaps it’s just going out of your way to prioritize peace over fighting.  Yitzchak Rabin, the Israeli Prime Minister whose political murder in 1995 was commemorated earlier this week was hardly blameless or one to prefer humility -- but even he eventually chose to sacrifice pride and political power in order to purse peace for future generations. He paid for it with his life. His legacy and sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will pick up where he left off. 

Possible? Perhaps it’s time to try. At this time of increased violence and who knows what’s ahead of us -- I’ll take this ancient wisdom, and hope that this journey offers us more helpful ways to hurt less and heal more - however we each can. 

Thank you for joining me below the bible belt. Keep breathing. Keep hopeful

Shabbat Shalom.  Sabbath Queen Says: Pause for Peace. However best you can.