My Piece for Peace

We can all play a role in bringing Peace to the world.

Have you ever thought about your Piece for Peace?

The simplest, yet very powerful, piece we can all contribute is prayer.

Prayer unites us with God the Father through the Holy Spirit. Prayer reaches into the hurting spaces and brings the healing power of Jesus.

Prayer disperses the darkness and brings the Light.

Prayer cloaks turmoil in the mantle of Peace.

Pope Francis reminds us that all war is defeat. Therefore, he has proclaimed this Friday, October 27th, as a day of fasting, prayer, and penance for the people suffering on both sides of the war. He says he will spend an hour in prayer to implore peace in the world, and he invites all believers to do the same.

I am so thankful to St. Paul Catholic Church for providing the time and space for everyone in the community to come together for a Holy Hour of prayer in unity with people around the world to pray for peace! Please stop in and Take 10, 20, 30, or 60 for Him!

It is easy to sit in my living room in Mississippi feeling disconnected and helpless when I read reports of the grave atrocities happening in Israel and other countries. It feels like there is absolutely nothing I could possibly do to make that situation better. But my heart won't let me get away with that kind of comfortable thinking. Not when I heard that parents had to write their children's names on their arms and legs so they wouldn't be discarded and forgotten if lost or killed in an airstrike. That hit me deeply!

I CANNOT IMAGINE BEING IN THAT SITUATION. I have worried about my children being in an accident, taking ill with serious disease, suffering depression.....but I have never had to worry about bombs falling on them in our hometown. I see images of these wars taking place in our world right now. I want to cradle the babies separated from their families. I want to pray with the parents separated from their children. I want to rescue the ones who are trapped and bring clean water, food, and clothing to refresh them all. But as of this morning, I don't see a way for me to physically do that.

What can I do? I can pray and invite others to pray.

That is my Piece for Peace.

That can be your Piece for Peace.

I love the wisdom of Pope Francis that we should choose a side in the conflict -- the side of Peace -- the only side that wins! It is not helpful to spend time cursing the perpetrators and aggressors. That spreads the hurt. Let us spend time in His presence praying for Peace! God is all-powerful, and He is waiting for us to turn to Him.

Prayer makes a difference. Doing nothing does nothing.

When people pray for me, I can feel it. I know it is how I get through the challenges.

Countless times, someone randomly comes to mind, and I pray for them. When I reach out and let them know, they are often experiencing something I was unaware of, and they are nearly overwhelmed by the comfort and peace they feel knowing someone else is lifting them in prayer. It is simple yet powerful. I can't fix what is broken, but I can pray.

I hope to see you at St. Paul Catholic Church @ 6:00 pm this Friday. If you are unable to be with us in person, take some time this Friday for a 10-minute break from the world of searching, thinking, doing, moving, and trying. Sit in silence with God and pray for peace. Read more in my previous post: Take 10 for Him!