Peace in this slice of time

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Nine of twenty rows of my Mr. Carter quilt stitched together. Another six rows were laid out last night, waiting in bags to be sewn, then added.

Today begins Lent. I've been reading The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, started last night How We Learn to Be Brave by Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, then cracked open this morning Letters & Papers From Prison, also by Bonhoeffer. I keep two bookmarks in Letters & Papers, as plentiful notes for each chapter demand quick access. Right now I'm using the dust jacket as my bookmark in How We Learn; perhaps I'll find a better solution, then that marker will forever dwell within that book as it happens for all my favourite tomes.

Yesterday was difficult; the trade wars with Canada, Mexico, and China are hard to digest, yet those aren't the only wrenches thrown by the president. Disabling as much governmental infrastructure as is possible compounds the chaos, as well as my lamentations. By evening's end, despite enjoyable stitching, I was low.

Sleeping was also difficult; I stirred with leg cramps, took over the counter medications, then drifted off, but not for as long as I could have used, waking at three a.m. I remained in bed for half an hour, got up, then sat at this very computer, not finding/doing anything conducive to rest. Finally I returned to bed, sleeping until a quarter after six! That for me is a lie-in, lol, and I was grateful for the daylight emerging like a welcome friend.

Letters & Papers From Prison also lifted my heart; perhaps that sounds weird, but what I took from just the introductory essay, entitled "After Ten Years", written in 1943, made me realize that while I wish anything else was true, my nation's decline into fascism isn't new on this planet. Why did I, and countless millions of others, believe America was above such brutal autocracy? We're certainly NOT, yet I hope for a peaceful outcome. I have no idea how/what that result will be, or if. Yet, I maintain hope.

Hope during Lent is one element of the journey. Another is rekindling the relationship with Christ. Focusing not on self, but on a spirit of Love, Compassion, Grace, Forgiveness.... These are what I draw upon when my heart is heavy. Peace one sliver at a time.

Despite yesterday and how badly I slept, today has been better. Brighter. Far more personable than perhaps this section of time could/should be. I have peace in this slice of time, and a joy no one can take from me. Hopefully someday my nation will again be calm, hopefully....

On this first day of Lent, that is my prayer. Peace for all, peace in all. Peace for myself. Peace everlasting.

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