Peace in 2018

Today is January 1st, which in the Catholic tradition in the Solemnity for Mary, Mother of God and, since the 1960s, World Day of Peace.

Global peace is a hard nut to crack and something I feel powerless to directly impact. But, for 2018, I pray that we all can create for ourselves a little sliver of peace in our day-to-day life with the hope that it will inspire others to do the same and, in the end, makes the world a little better.

Being at peace doesn't mean inaction or acceptance of the world as it is, either. It is a calmness that centers us toward our Creator, hearing the whispers of the Holy Spirit guiding us to know what we can or can not do, strengthen us to do those things we can do but are afraid to, and settles us when we worry about the things we can not do.

I look forward to 2018 as a year of hope and of hopeful action.