PEBBLE
Our world is in desperate need of healing. But it also rests in good hands, because it rests in yours. And in you rests the source of all healing, and all that is needed to awaken you and the world.
-Roger Walsh, shared by Kelsey in Fond du Lac, WI
BOULDER
I used to think that peace was a place,
a final destination we arrive at
after all wars have ended.
But I have come to understand
that peace is not a line we cross.
It is a choice we make
over and over and over again.
Especially when it is the hardest,
especially when it feels far away.
from “Peace is a Verb” by Maryam Bukar Hassan, shared by Roach in York, PA
PONDER
Peace may feel far away right now, but it’s closer than we think—because it begins here, with us. When our minds race toward outrage, we can slow down. When our feelings tighten into fear or resentment, we can breathe a little more space. When our actions risk adding fuel to the fire, we can pause, reset, and choose something smaller and steadier. Every tiny ripple toward understanding, compassion, or restraint contributes to a current that carries us all forward.
We can’t control all the headlines, and we can’t single-handedly end conflict. But we can notice how our own thoughts and words add heat or bring calm. We can soften the edge of our feelings when they start to harden into contempt. And we can act in ways that heal—asking a curious question, pausing before we post, extending a kindness. These choices don’t erase the world’s turmoil, but they do keep us part of the solution.
I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t know exactly where things are headed, and I don’t have solid answers for how we best move forward to avoid things getting worse. What I do know is that long-simmering fears and frustrations on both sides, combined with high levels of reactivity, have created less stability and more danger than we’ve seen in recent history. This week, see if you can choose just one thought, one feeling, or one action that brings peace a little closer.
Peace,
Paul