Yay! This is a special day.
I heard from my publisher that my book is live in their bookstore. They are drafting a press release to share the book with other sellers including Amazon, but when you buy directly from my publisher's website, my royalties are higher since we don't have to pay the middleman.
I've been working on this for over five years and have written the book at least three times. I almost feel shy as it finally lands out there in the world and out of my hands.
My prayer is that my journey to grow, heal from trauma and find Mr. Wright can inspire and encourage others with laughter, hope, insight and the power of redemptive grace!
Here is a sneak peek at one of the interior photos!
Today we light the Peace candle. The Prince of Peace invites us to enjoy stillness. “Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the waves: “Peace! Be still.” The wind died down and was completely calm.” Thank you, Jesus, for entering the storms of life with us and bringing peace there.
Peace Poem:
In a world full of noise and conflict and sorrow.
Life vibrates with sound and motion
Thoughts fly in chasing others out
Multi-tasking, managing schedules, juggling responsibilities
Needs cry out to be met
Storms blow in knocking us flat -
Jesus beckons
“Peace
Be still
Peace I give to you
A gift to nurture a transformation
Rooting you in restoration
Jesus invites
Let peace grow within you
and then let it out to the world so in need of reconciliation.
Let me create peace in you beyond your understanding
that you can hold the light of the Prince of Peace
to shelter your heart and shine on the path of all those around you.
~ Peg Wright 2022
I was reminded this morning how vital it is to know we are seen, heard, known and loved! I love the bible story of the lamb that was missed, sought and found by the shepherd! It is lovely to remember that the One who made us is always aware of our needs and steps in before we even know how to ask.
As a young teen struggling with trauma, I'd go out into the woods and feel a peace and calm settle over me as I recognized God's care and understanding even though I didn't even know what I needed. I knew I wasn't alone in the best possible way - not the creepy way.
Whatever this day is like for you, take a second to breathe deeply and know that you are seen, known and loved!
I teach beginner piano to the girls I babysit and so enjoy watching them connect with music! The youngest came to her lesson in a princess dress and draped it over the side of the bench as she sat beside me with a lovely bow in her freshly brushed hair. We talked to her fingers about how strong and capable they have grown since we began. They have each learned to take their place on the keys and take turns offering their note to make beautiful melodies!
After reviewing the keyboard, intervals and notes on a staff, she sailed through four songs earning stickers with each success to mark the wins! To finish I asked her if she wanted to play a game on the piano together or if she would prefer to dance while I played a song.
With her spectacular dress, I'm sure you can guess her preference was to dance and twirl. I asked if she wanted a fast song or a slow graceful one. Graceful it was!
I love how music can be such a gift to destress, create, move and play! Andrew often goes to the piano after a day of classes to unwind and use a different part of his brain! I love listening as he grows his ability to play complex arrangements! And, of course, I love to play, create, dance and worship with music!
The harmony of music is also full of wonderful metaphors. I told the eldest about the song "Ebony and Ivory" from the 80's performed by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. I remember our Hudson version of the song harmonizing with my brother as we did the dishes! It still captures my heart's prayer that we would all thrive together!
Ebony and ivory
Live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard
Oh, Lord, why don't we?
We all know that people are the same wherever you go
There's good and bad in everyone
We learn to live when we learn to give each other
What we need to survive together alive
Ebony and ivory
Live together in perfect harmony
Side by side on my piano keyboard
Oh, Lord, why don't we?
Songwriters: McCartney Paul James, 1981
Blessed are the peacemakers, dancers, poets, artists and musicians who add such beauty and insight to lighten our days!
I was sitting with my family last night and we were reflecting on how differently our Facebook feeds can be depending on what we have shown interest in. We are aware of the echo chamber of social media. Our preferred new sources, political and religious slants are echoed back to us to make us feel more justified in our perspectives. It's soothing to live in only one mindset and to not have to stretch to understand another point of view.
There is a lot of division at this point in the pandemic. We have had two years of making the best of the hand we have been given, but there is fatigue, loss, fear, judgement, blame and anger expressed behind the divisions as people want this to end.
My house has three guys who make decisions based on logic and want science and objective reality to be the guiding factors. Two of us are more tuned into the emotions of the people around us. We all want to be sensitive to the lenses we wear as we try to see the way forward. Our experiences, desires, losses and challenges create different mindsets that drive decisions.
I guess the question that landed in my heart today was: What will we choose to amplify: fear, doubt, anger, tolerance, grace, understanding, peace?
Today the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi was helpful to me as I look for a way to amplify productive movement.
Jesus wanted us to move in unity of the Spirit of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. Those fruits are the nature of who God is. I'd like to be a conduit of that Spirit in the midst of a difficult, challenging, prolonged marathon this pandemic has been. Want to amplify love and grace with me as we seek to build bridges of understanding, empathy and hope as we help one another through the hardships?
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi (Prayer for Peace)
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
