what is peace?

Breath of Peace, 2024 (2nd painting of Revelation 22:2 Project)

Keiko Yamada

Acrylic Painting on Canvas

24 x 30 inch

Perhaps there’s a similarity between the word ‘peace’ and ‘love’.

In a sense, we know that it is a “good thing” but we don’t always share the same definition.

Unlike something tangible—like a pencil—that we can all see, recognize and agree that it is a pencil, peace is not necessarily visible.

What is peace? 

In this artwork, “Breath of Peace”, I painted multitude of white doves flying across the clear blue sky.

White dove often symbolize peace. 

But what is peace, really? 

I don’t claim to have full understanding of it, but I hope this can be an opportunity for both of us to reflect on it - because all of us know what the lack of peace feels like. Whether it’s in broken relationships, chaos at work, or the distress we feel when we watch the news.

 Because God created each of us with care and purpose, there is something in our hearts that whispers, “This is not what the world should look like”. Our soul remembers what ‘Eden’ looked like in the beginning. 

📖　PAUSE ＆ REFLECT（Defining Peace)

What is peace to you? What does it look like? What does ‘lack of peace’ look like to you?

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My personal journey

Personally, I realize the shallowness of my own understanding of peace every time I listen to stories of those who actually lived through war. 

I spent significant number of years in China. During that time, I had the opportunity to hear people’s personal stories… not just what the history books or documentaries tells us on a large scale, but the individual, human experiences. 

I listened to voices from both sides, those who fought for China and those who fought for Japan. Everyone had lost something dear to their hearts. The word “peace” sounded much more weightier from their mouth than mine. 

Yet, it is interesting how people who have all their daily needs met (food, shelter, comfort, etc) can still lack peace in their hearts, sometimes to the point of tragic endings. 

It was the ‘Lack of peace’ that led me to Christ when I was 19. There was unspeakable chaos in my heart that no earthly things were able to provide me with peace that lasted.

And Jesus said something that nobody else ever said to me:

“Peace be with you.”

John 20:19

Peace comes through with reconciliation with God, who created us with care and purpose. 

📖　PAUSE ＆ REFLECT（Asking for peace in our life)

Peace is not a feeling, not a fleeing state, but solid rock given in Christ received by faith.  How can we practice Philippians 4:6, 7 today?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6, 7 (NIV)

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Breath of Peace

This artwork, Breath of Peace, is the second piece in my Revelation 22:2 Project.

Each artwork is made using eggshells, which means it takes months to complete just one. Because it takes a long time, it is a perfect reminder and a tool to pray for one specific nation throughout the creative process.

For each piece, I intercede for that nation and create a design that subtly resembles its flag, which is a visual representation of nation itself.

Every time I crack the eggshell, I am reminded that there’s no nation without sin. 

No nation without brokenness.

Every nation carries areas that need the redemption only Christ can bring.

At the same time, every nation has its own unique beauty that reflects God’s goodness and creativity. 

Breath of Peace represents the nation of Israel. This becomes more obvious when you see how this piece was made. 

It is inspired by Psalm 122:6.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Psalm 122:6

My own trip to Jerusalem

I visited Jerusalem once, in 2015. I was in awe of the nation’s beauty, yet my heart broke as I witnessed the tension and hatred between different people groups.

What made that experience even more striking was that I was there with a group of Chinese people- very people group that had long-standing tension with my county of origin, Japan.

 While I lived in China, I witnessed both the depth of hatred and depth of Christ’s love —a love that miraculously brought not just peace, but also healing and reconciliation between individual Chinese and Japanese people.

 Because of this personal experience in China, I cannot help but pray that one day, true peace will be upon Jerusalem.

📖　PAUSE ＆ REFLECT（Letting Christ’s Peace flow out)

Criticism, depending on the situation, can be helpful. It can bring improvement or solutions. But it can also close the door to discussion to expand more of our understanding, or even to peace and reconciliation.

Is there any individual, community, or nation we could ‘pray and intercede for’, instead of criticizing with our own limited understanding? 

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Thank you for reading!