GIVING PEACE AWAY

Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007) wrote, “If God’s peace is in our hearts, we carry it with us, and it can be given to those around us, not by our own will or virtue, but by the Holy Spirit working through us. We cannot give what we do not have, but if the spirit blows through the dark clouds and enters our hearts, we can be used as vehicles of peace, and our own peace will be thereby deepened. The more peace we give away, the more we have.”

As much as I might want to give peace away to others there is often the possibility that I have little to give. I ‘cannot give what I do not have’ and some days that certainly includes peace. What I am learning is that peace is not just my responsibility but depends on my submission to the Holy Spirit ‘who blows through the dark clouds’ and influences others and me.

When our day is ragged and disrupted and seemingly far from peace is perhaps the day to try and give away peace so we will have more peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus