When people started returning to church as the pandemic restrictions loosened, the sign of peace was different. I’m guilty of defaulting to these quick gestures as well, and they definitely ease the stress of the sign of peace guessing game. We offer one another a sign of peace as a way of remembering some of the last words of the Prince of Peace before his arrest and looming murder: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you” (Jn 14:27). I’m not naïve enough to think that more deliberate encounters during the sign of peace will alone create more peace in the world. I also believe this proximity can allow peace—a disarmed peace and a disarming peace—to enter our hearts.