I give you my peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
and do not let them be afraid.
—John 14.27

I give you the quiet peace of this present moment:
without hurry, fear or need to be elsewhere,
but right here, right now, as you are, at rest.
I give you the strong peace of yourself:
the peace of forgiveness and my delight in who you are,
with no need to prove yourself or do better.
I give you the vibrant peace of oneness with all living things,
the peace of deep belonging,
and reconciliation with all people.
I give you the life-giving peace of my own spirit,
my love, trust and courage beating in your heart,
my presence in your soul.
I give you the joyous peace of trust—
trust in your life and its goodness,
trust in the Beloved and your belovedness.
I give you the renewing peace of healing,
of blessing hidden even in struggle and pain,
of trust that even in suffering all shall be well.
I give not as the world gives, from the outside,
but from within, by your being created,
and it cannot be taken away.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

Grace and peace,
Anita Sorenson
Pastor for Spiritual Formation