Peanut Butter’s Sticky! Can You Swim? (02/22/2025)

Our world has become increasingly polarized over the past few years. I don’t know if I’m the only one to notice. I know I have been praying about it. Then last evening, I was having dinner with two friends when in conversation, one mentioned his work with a gentleman who was great at defusing situations. Seems that when everyone on both sides of an issue were at near “explosion” level, he’d say, “Peanut butter is sticky. Can you swim?” And the room would grow quiet. Those present would step back from the edge, shake or scratch their heads, asking themselves, “What?” And that was the point.

That truly was the point – to pause so everyone could step back and realize that what was happening was not what they were working toward. They were going in the wrong direction – rather than seeking common ground, they were planting their heels where they were and refusing to move. Rather than finding a resolution they were nearing a revolution.

We could use more “Peanut butter is sticky. Can you swim?” sayers and moments, people who understand the need for collaboration, people who looked for ways to sow peace rather than division. Jesus told us, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” How I wish the world would join with me and give peacemaking a try.

I’ve shared before my daily habit of using the Peace Prayer as my morning offering and nightly examen. It helps me to set before me my appropriate response to the challenges I will encounter in the world each day. And at the end of the day, that same prayer helps me to examine how I acted when challenged.

How would the world be different if when we all encountered hatred, we sought to sow love. How could we change the trajectory of humankind if when we encountered injury, we immediately offered pardon and earnest forgiveness? What impact would it have if when we encountered doubt, we countered with our faith in Christ? Would the world be more peaceful if when we encountered despair, we threw others a lifeline of hope? What transformation would be possible if when we encountered darkness in our world, we shared the light of Christ which we promise to carry always and everywhere? Could we be instruments of Christ’s peace if when we encountered sadness, we opened ourselves and shared the joy of life in, with and through our LORD?

I’m going to keep “Peanut butter is sticky. Can you swim?” in my resource pocket. I must admit it is especially clever. I wish I had been able to meet its creator. I think we would have gotten along.

As we continue on our journeys of faith, daily encountering various challenges along the way, let us pray to the Spirit for the grace and personal resources of peace. Let us commit to doing what we can to sow peace daily, to broadcast its seeds across the path, to love in the face of hatred, to forgive in response to being hurt, to share our faith and our hope in Christ with those who need to know about Christ still, to allow the light of Christ to illuminate our world and dispel darkness, and to share the joy we know because we know Christ.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.