Peace Never Wants To Go First

“When we work from a place, I believe, that says ‘I’m enough,’ then we stop screaming and start listening, we’re kinder and gentler to the people around us, and we’re kinder and gentler to ourselves.”

Brene Brown

In Sarah Blondin’s wonderful book, “Heart Minded,” she quotes her son - “Peace never wants to go first.” I love that. Children are so full of truth. And potty words. But I digress.

Before we return to Michelle and her conundrum, how about we pause for some peace? Let’s start there, the last place we often look. But one little preachy word. I wonder what would happen if every morning we refused to go out into the world until we had found our peace?

Lord, you have brought me to the seclusion of a manmade lake, built for the making of hydroelectric power; which is good for power, but cost many families their farmland. Oh, the burden of vision.

You have brought me to the valley of vision, what would you have me see?

Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision.

Let me find your light in my darkness, your life in my death, your joy in my worrow, your grace in my sin, your riches in my poverty, your glory in my valley.

The burden of the valley of vision.

Isaiah 22:1