"May this be the season of your life where you become the one who courageously chooses to pursue a life of peace, right here, where she is. "

What is endless, boundless, peace?
It is peace that goes beyond understanding. It is peace that allows you to have freedom from disturbance even when it seems impossible. It is the ability to be liberated from the lie that when something goes wrong, you are doomed to permanent restlessness.

When is the last time you truly experienced this kind of freedom?

For most of us, we probably do not feel this way very often, or we may wonder if we ever feel this way at all. In a way, “endless, boundless, peace” can feel like a distant, far-off thing that is only available to those who are much wiser or more mature than us. It can also be difficult to look at the world around us and make sense of how we can truly know peace while so many things are falling apart.

It is no secret that “peace” seems absent from this world, and for many of us, our inner world too. It seems impossible that amidst all of the anxious thoughts running through our minds, and all of the chaos stirring up like fire around us, peace can still run like a river through it all.

Amidst these difficult realities, may you remember this truth about peace: peace is a virtue you can choose to bring with you in whatever room you enter into. When tensions are high, you can still choose to be aware that peace is running like a river through you. This does not mean that everyone will immediately loosen their shoulders and let peace overtake them too, but it does mean that because peace is endless and boundless, it is not hindered by tense situations.

Peace may feel absent when the conversation has gotten heated, when the plan has fallen through, or when the bad news floods in, but all by grace, peace is still present, and you can choose to acknowledge that right here, in the present moment, even when it seems far away.

If this seems like an abstract idea, start by drawing slow and careful breaths. When you feel your body tensing up or your mind going on a downward spiral, close your eyes and breathe. Of course, in this moment, it won’t change everything around you, but perhaps it can begin to change something within you. Perhaps it will remind you that no matter how much you have been holding in, you are still capable of the release. You are capable of being free from the burden of the worries that keep you from experiencing peace.

And don’t be discouraged if it is challenging to pursue endless, boundless peace on a daily basis. Life is difficult, and there are so many things that are being thrown at you. It is also not wrong to be sensitive to the issues that speak to your heart. But just remember this: no matter which way the world around you seems to be turning, there will always be a need for people who are actively pursuing and bringing peace to others. There will always be a need for people who are finding peace right where they are, no matter where they work, attend school, or where they live. May this be the season of your life where you become the one who courageously chooses to pursue a life of peace, right here, where you are. It may seem like “peace” is absent everywhere you turn...and that is exactly why we need more of it.

More tomorrow..

Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols