How well do you hold your peace?

See? My mind is full of ‘loaded’ questions this week. Maybe the question is “How do you hold your peace when the world around you is chaotic?”. That could really describe all of us at one moment or another.

The simple answer to how to hold your peace isn’t simple at all. You practice. It may sound do-able, but those who seek the silence and want to listen know that it takes more time than you want to get to the place. The place that you can’t describe, but you know all is well and will be well.

A different answer to that question could be age/wisdom. You realize at some point that what you were doing 20 years ago you don’t have to do anymore and you might have better results. You realize that setbacks are not ‘the end of the world’ they are just momentary stops on your journey.

With a push from a friend, I conscientiously started seeking that peaceful place on a retreat more than 20 years ago. For quite awhile it didn’t seem like anything was happening, but the things that happen in the silence will surprise you.

In a different part of life in a different job, I had lost my peace. Working in an online world helped me get it back. Now I look at my colleagues who seem constantly stressed out and think- why?

If I’m showing up every day and giving my best in all situations, there is nothing better I can do. I’m already doing it. If I don’t finish something- does it actually have to be done today or is that just me having unrealistic expectations of perfection?

That’s my secret. I do my best in the situations I am in and let the rest go. There will always be circumstances beyond my control, but if I keep my mind and heart engaged in heavenly pursuits, actively take the quiet time to pray and be quiet each day, then my problems don’t seem like problems at all.

I told you it is simple but not easy. Find your ‘people’ and surround yourself with them. I am always fortunate to find my people wherever I go; note I am also looking for what we have in common, not what divides us, and I can find something. Seek and you shall find. Look for the moments of peace (or quiet) each day and someday soon you will notice that the chaos around you, isn’t chaos to you.