Dark Horizon
Peggy Young of Independence, MO, USA
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:4-7
Every day on my way to work, I drive through the Little Blue River valley in Eastern Jackson County, Missouri. Today, as I came over the rise on the east side of the valley, a winding white cloud rose above the narrow river. As my car curved down the hill, I wondered how thick the fog would be on the road below, along the river.
At the bottom of the hill, only a light film of mist surprised me. It scarcely obscured my visibility. The sun shone right through the cloud, lighting the way and evaporating the moisture still hanging like a thread in the air.
I thought, how like life that is. We see clouds on the horizon and worry that when they arrive in our lives, everything will be gray and dark. We fear becoming lost in the mist of impending troubles. Yet when the event arrives, it often turns out to be not nearly as dark as we feared. And even if it is, we know the Son is beyond every cloudbank, continually trying to shine through and light our way, even in the darkest circumstances. We have only to call on him to help guide us to peace.
Prayer Phrase
“Led by the Holy Spirit, we work with God and others to restore peace (shalom) to creation” (https://www.cofchrist.org/enduring-principles).
Spiritual Practice
Embodying God’s Shalom
Find a way to express and embody God’s shalom. Begin by prayerfully listening to your longing for peace and wholeness. Become silent and imagine you can hear the groaning of the Earth’s people, nations, and creatures. Prayerfully open yourself to God’s yearning for peace and the divine vision of shalom.
What images, feelings, and words come to you? What prayer for peace comes to you from your time of listening? Speak or write this prayer. What act of justice, kindness, healing, or peacemaking does God invite you to consider this day?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
