When we think about peace, we often picture a serene landscape, a quiet moment, or a calm demeanor. The peace that God offers us is not dependent on our circumstances. It’s not about the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. It’s about trusting in God’s sovereignty, even when life is chaotic and uncertain.

During our trials and tribulations, we can experience God’s peace. It’s a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. It’s a peace that transcends human understanding. It’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we’re anxious, we’re told to pray and present our requests to God. This should be done with thanksgiving, because thanksgiving is an expression of trust. It’s a way of saying, “God, I believe that you’re in control….

My son Zachary shared this story with me recently: last weekend, during the gorgeous Spring weather (especially appreciated by all after the days of rain that preceded it!), he decided to take a book to Central Park to read and people-watch in the sun. The park was crowded, but the vibes were good. Everyone was enjoying the liberating feeling of being outside.

Zachary made himself at home on a bench, comfortable with his iced coffee and his reading material. People rotated through inhabiting the empty spaces on either side of where he was sitting. Eventually, a couple approached the bench next to him. They were carrying paper bags with food from a deli and getting ready to share some al fresco brunch and conversation. But before they sat down one of them said, “Wait! Let’s see who we’re spending time with today.”….

Yesterday, May 8, we commemorated the feast day of Dame Julian of Norwich, who is the first woman we know of to have written a book in English. She was born in 1342 in England, and lived during a time of upheaval that included famine, revolts, and the Black Plague. When she was thirty, she became gravely ill and was expected to die. Just after receiving last rites, she began having a series of mystical visions of Christ suffering on the cross. The experience brought her great comfort and joy, and she wrote the visions down in a book called Revelations of Divine Love. She later became an anchorite, living in a tiny cell attached to the church Norwich, and she developed a reputation as a wise spiritual counselor….