Advent blessings! Prayers that in the midst of finals, travel, ice, and Christmas preparation you are able to find a moment of God’s peace.
Today’s devotional is written by Sarah Greufe. Sarah is a senior Communications major at TCU. In her time at TCU Sarah has (among other things) worked on the Daily Skiff, the Multicultural Alliance, studied abroad in Ireland, taught dance at Project M.I.C.A.H and been an active part of the Religious and Spiritual life group’s Soul Steppers and Better Together. Sarah was born in Iowa and graduated high school in Ardmore Oklahoma. I am so glad she made her way to TCU. Through her gifts as a writer and a dancer and her dedication to her faith she has left her mark on this campus. Sarah’s life shines with kindness.
As we all are desperately seeking peace in this stressful season, may we find hope in Sarah’s wise words that peace is not a place but a gift from deep within us.
God’s peace to you, Allison
Peace is not a Place, by Sarah Greufe
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”-Psalm 14:27
Some days all I want is to close my eyes tightly, forget the buzzing of the world turning and imagine myself in a sunny place. I go to a yoga class, watch a TV show, or listen to music to try to rest my mind. Papers, schedules, responsibilities create an invisible mound of stress which takes its toll on my physical and emotional health. I think if I could just escape, leave the to-do list on the kitchen counter and go somewhere new I could find peace…
I thought this while planning a semester abroad in Ireland. Worries did not exist in the fresh, green, foreign land where “the road rises to meet you.” Sure enough, as any expatriate would know, living in a different country was not always smooth sailing. Aside from constantly feeling lost, I felt distanced from the comfort of my home community. The promise of peace was drowned out by the confusion and adjustments of growing in a new environment. What I’ve learned through my explorations and attempts at finding peace is that it wasn’t a place I could reach on my own.
As the psalm says, peace is a gift. Although it’s not always one I’m willing to receive. I prefer to flounder around in the messes of my restlessness first. It’s not until I trust Him that I discover despite every sound reason I have for worrying about my life, there is a promise of peace from God which stills my anxieties.
I’ll leave you with the prayer of St. Francis, which always bring light to my soul…
Make me a channel of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring your love. Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord. And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.Where there is darkness only light, And where there’s sadness ever joy.
Oh Master, grant that I may never seek so much to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of your peace. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; in giving of ourselves that we receive, and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
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