Welcome to the the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival on Peace. Please add your link to the widget below, and enjoy what others have to say on the subject…
I’m participating in a challenge (as are many others) issued by Maureen, and will be donating $1 for every original comment left on this post (up to 100 comments) left by 12:00 PM (Noon~PST) on January 27th to World Vision for Haiti relief.
If you are on Twitter, you can help spread the word and use the hashtag #helpforhaiti.
To read my contribution to the carnival, please scroll down past the links. Thanks for your participation!
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One Word at a Time…Peace
I mistakenly believed that the word peace was going to be an easy one to write about… then I began thinking of what I’d say and I realized how wrong I was!
I’ve read the definition:
Inner contentment; serenity: peace of mind.
The problem is, when I tried to think of an instance I wanted to share where I felt peaceful, or had experienced inner contentment and serenity… I came up blank! I haven’t experienced what I consider to be true peace for as long as I can recall.
The reasons are pretty simple… and since I’d like to be completely honest… the only person to blame is… ME!
I suffer from anxiety and worry way too much… I have difficulty letting go of things…
I stress over the small things as well as the BIG… those I can change… plus the stuff I have zero control over.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
I can make excuses about how busy I am, and that there is never enough time in the day (all true things)… but to experience inner contentment, serenity, and peace of mind… how could I NOT make time for that?
I’ve been hiding… (there, I admitted it!) I get invitations from friends and I find reasons (excuses) not to go. I have calls to return and when I finally get around to it… it’s usually in the form of an email or other ‘written’ method.
For those in my world (believe it or not there are still a few) that don’t use the internet (GASP)… I call back at times when I know they might be busy and I’ll (hopefully) get their voicemail.
I find that I don’t want to converse with anyone… I feel like they’ll see right through me if I actually TALK to them. I’m failing in so many areas of my life and this is pretty much what I figure my side of the conversation will sound like…
“Well… NO, I haven’t found a job yet… YES, I do feel like a failure and like I’m a terrible wife and mother. Oh, you want to know about my book… NO, I still don’t have any offers…” (people really don’t understand how this process works at all, or how long it can take)
Man, that sounds pathetic… but I did mention I wanted to be honest. In contemplating the word peace… I’ve come to realize… I don’t have any!
I sit for several hours (many times a week) in our home office with complete silence surrounding me. Sure, I have things to do… bills to pay, job searching, real estate work, writing… the point is, there’s quiet and yet I still don’t take advantage of this time to find peace (or let it find me).
“We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God” ~ Thomas Merton
I now wonder… am I hiding from God too? Sure I pray (quite often), but am I LISTENING for answers… or blocking them out like all the other ‘voices’ in my life? Is God leaving me messages that I’m not returning? Am I waiting for a more opportune time to see what He wants to tell me?
I believe the only way we can completely feel at peace is to fully surrender ourselves to Him… so the question is… why am I holding back?
I doubt there is a magic ‘happy pill’ that will take away these feelings of depression and discouragement I’m experiencing (at least not permanently)… the only way to get myself out of this place I’ve been hiding is to… LET GO!
If you’ve been struggling, or are frustrated and afraid (you are NOT alone)… are you willing and ready to make this huge leap of faith in an attempt to finally find (as well as experience) true peace and contentment?
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First Comment.
I too know the feeling of not completely finding peace. Especially when it’s quiet. Sometimes, when there’s nothing going on is when the thoughts in our head echo louder. You know where to find me if you ever need an ear. 
#Hugs
Boy, do I understand… I think sometimes we can forget that there is such a thing as peace. We live so long without it that we forget that it flows from Him if we choose Him instead of the fear, doubt, busyness, worry, etc. Great thoughts and honesty, and I love that quote in the middle. I’m so glad that like everything else in Him, peace is a gift we just have to receive. We’re already in position…
I love Thomas Merton’s quote. I know it because I’ve stood there — between my thoughts of peace vs. the missing reality of it. And it drove me to my knees. At the point I went past the place of no return, I received peace. But, it required me to go through a big shake up – changing, loss and going beyond what I thought I could endure. Then, He came in all of it and gave me peace.
“He who begun a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. ” Phil 1:6
God is faithful.
Thank you for sharing your heart and where you are at, Bridget.
I love the Robbie Seay band and have not thought about them in a few years. Thanks for the reminder.
Bridget, thanks for sharing a portion of your life with us …
Me too, me too. I relate to a lot of your “hiding” strategies. And at least in my case, all that hiding from others usually goes right along with hiding from God.
Love your honesty! You’re not alone.
It’s astounding to me how difficult peace is for us to pursue, even whilst it is the most simple promise to claim. I love your thoughts, and I just participated in my ‘first’ carnival! woo hoo!
You sound just like the rest of us. And He hears you, just like He hears the rest of us. It’s amazing, when you stop to think about it. And you (and the rest of us) stopped here to think about it.
Hi Bridget,
I stumbled upon this Carnival today via Twitter…so I posted something that I had written a bit ago…I hope that’s okay. It worked so well with the peace theme!
Thanks! Michelle
I love your honesty and I could have written some of that myself lately. Thanks for puting it into words.
As I’ve gotten older I realized for me, peace isn’t a bonk on the head announcing now I’m peaceful. Peace sneaks in, quietly, comforting, and sometimes you don’t know it’s there because it’s different than you thought it would be.
Bridget, You are so precious to open up the secret closet of your heart and share it with everyone. Now I understand your comment on my post…they do go together! And thank you! May you be blessed with the Lord’s presence and His peace through intimate conversations as you sit at His feet.
I think you’ve opened a door to exploring your feelings in your heart; that’s a great first step toward finding peace in your heart.
Bridget … thank you for your words and for bringing all these heart-felt thoughts about peace together. One of these days, we will reach the tipping point and peace will be like sunrise, happening naturally and beautifully every day.
That was a beautiful, beautiful post. I totally agree, true peace can only be found in complete surrender to Him.
Well, I don’t see you as a failure. Rather you are on the beginning path of pushing away all the fleshly distractions in life of the “would of, could of, should of” cultural expectations. Eventually, as you go through this cleansing process you realize that Peace has always been present as Presence inside your spirit.
The trick is to focus upon it 24/7, see it, feel it, live it. How? Cultivate the Presence of God constantly and all the rest falls into place and works itself out no matter how annoying or intrusive. Every time a situation begins to pull your focus away from Peace, take charge and yank it right back into your inner harmony you have been experiencing. Learning to practice this level of meditation and contemplation while we are going about daily tasks takes some time, yet is so rewarding.
You know it’s like the old saying, “We are what we focus upon.” I took that to heart a long time ago and it’s been working ever since. Great post of wonderful honesty and thoughtfulness!
Bridget, thanks for hostessing the Carnival again! You do such a great job and you make us feel so welcome!
After I posted my entry last night, I was kind of chuckling to myself about how ironic it is that I had such peace during a riot, but that it’s usually when the little things happen (somebody is abrupt with me on the phone or my boss doesn’t thank me for doing him a favor or my checkbook doesn’t balance quite right) that I lose my peace. I guess if it were easy, we wouldn’t need faith…
Thanks for your honesty Bridget! Peace is something that I find elusive at times as well. I have to be continually reminded of Philippians 4:6-7
Ooops! I somehow managed to post my link twice!
No worries… it’s all good!
Sometimes there’s never a better relief than to just talk about stuff with God or a friend (not that God’s not a friend…). There’s something about just letting it go. Good post Bridget!
Oh, and I love the Robbie Seay band…
plus, do both of my comments count?
Matt, for this great cause, I can let them BOTH count! I stumbled across that song… really like it (them)!
It just occurred to me that my earlier comment on your post announcing Peace might not qualify for the Haiti count, so here I am, again! Now… pay up, sista!
P.S. Loved your candor in this post. You and I must be soul sisters. I often say that I’m a loner who doesn’t like to be alone – so why do I so often choose to be? There’s very little peace in it.
Peace out.
LOL… cha-ching!
That is the truth! There is very little peace in it… thanks, Cheryl.
How often do we try to do things in our own strength? With the current economic times my wife and I have our moments of ‘how are we going to do this?’, but it always comes back to let’s continue to be generous and God will pull us through. And he will do the same for you
I honestly can’t find words worthy enough for a comment to benefit this cause. Great job!
very thoughtful post, Bridget … and I was so appreciative that Steve joined in the cause
Thank you for sharing your heart, this beautiful post, and the Blog Carnival for Haiti relief. May you find the time to listen to that still, small voice and find peace in your life each day.
like the photo, and know the place.
my kids never want to miss the candy shop. we always come home with little pink and white striped bags of taffy and other candies. i have not been to the beach in ages though. i like finding the smooth black stones and shaping them into patterns in the sand, or just bringing a few in my pocket to hold. i like going there as long as it is not to cold and windy, which it is most of the time, but still, one can get a warm day there in feb. strange but true. once i was in seaside traveling on the back of my first husband’s motercycle. we spent the night there at a place on the beach…this was probably around 1978, and the next morning i went out on the beach, and i was alone. i was new to the area and didn’t know if this was usual or not, but, the whole beach was just covered with sandollars! whole ones! i picked up a couple and brought them with me in my back pack. i have never see anything like it since. i have also found two glass balls…in all the years i have gone, two has been it for them…always a great surprise to find.
yes…i like the photo. you and the beach…so pretty.
You are too kind… nAncY.
Isn’t that beach an awesome place to visit? I really miss it and loved your story.
Taking risks and stepping out in faith has brought me much peace already this year. It’s amazing how much more I talk to God when I’ve made myself a little uncomfortable and faced difficult decisions.
I loved this post, Bridget! And, I love Robby Seay Band.
Thanks for hosting the Carnival! It has been a lot of fun.
Hello lovely Bridget,
thanks for the host of blog carnival — and the inspiration.
and your honesty
and truth
and beauty
which you share with such grace and ease.
Oh, and I forgot to say, I came home from work this evening — I want to say early but actually it was just at a decent less, workaholic hour — and I crawled into bed with my laptop to enjoy an evening of Blog Carnival.
And….
I feasted on the entire string of pearls linked in your blog roll.
thank you.
I have had the most amazing evening relishing the wisdom and beauty and images created by all these amazing people who have joined in!
Blessings.
I wanted to thank all who have stopped by today and taken the time to read AND leave a comment. Not only does it means $$ for Haiti… but the words and encouragement you’ve given to me are priceless!
Let’s keep it going, spread the word and let’s see how much I’ll be donating tomorrow afternoon…
Much love and gratitude,
B-
You know why I like you Bridget, no not just because you live over the river from me
. But it’s because you are an authentic, loving human being. I believe it’s harder to tell it like it is than make life look syrupy sweet all the time. For me, it’s always nice to have those gentle reminders to give all my cares to the Lord. I feel blessed that you and I met. Thanks for being my friend!
Thank you, JoAnne. Your kind words mean so much! I’m very happy you are my friend, too.
I just made a donation to World Vision and wanted to say thank you to all that took the time to leave a comment and participate in the carnival.
Blessings to all…
B-