Look for peace not disaster

 As we progress day by day through the pandemic we become aware of how it has changed the way we live. The everyday activities seem to be a remote memory where once they were commonplace. The ability to associate freely with others and the new rituals that we have adopted seem to have seeped into our bones. In the face of this reality, there can be a sense of both hopes for a better future and frustration with what the new normal will look like. We long for freedom while practicing restraint. We also become aware of other places where people seem to have it better than ourselves.

In these times it can be easy to look for what seems miraculous which can lead us out of these difficult times. This is not just about being vaccinated but rather how we will encourage each other to become people of mercy. How do we see the face of Christ and look for peace, not disaster? We need to be people of hope who look for the graces which are present in everyday life. Acknowledging those who go the extra yard to bear witness to the goodness of God in acts of kindness. It is easy to look for what may go wrong in life rather than seeking to discover ways of living that make a profound difference to others. 

This is not to become people with our heads in the clouds but rather who take a long loving look at the real. To notice the sometimes conflicting emotions and thoughts within us. This allows us to be people who are aware that we can make a choice, to be honest to ourselves about those situations which can seem to overwhelm us. Yet by allowing ourselves not to be overcome or isolated by tidal waves of oppressive thoughts which alienate us from each other we can make a choice for good. It helps us to be people who become aware of how our lives can make a positive difference for others through the charism entrusted to us. To be people who build a community founded on peace, not disaster. In this way, we can become creatively present on a daily basis by witnessing God's presence in our lives.

Our prayer is now not just a private affair between us and God. It is a way of being open to what brings hope to ourselves and to our neighbours. It changes the way we think and the way we act. It allows us to become agents of faith, hope, and love. To be detectives of grace and point to those things that build up rather than tear down. To be prophets for our own age that God is present in all things.