Feeling Awash in Chaos? Seek Peace, and You Will Find It
Stepping out of the busyness, stopping our endless pursuit of getting somewhere else, is perhaps the most beautiful offering we can make to our spirit.
Tara Brach
Retire to the center of your being, which is calmness.
Paramahansa Yogananda
I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am.
Sylvia Plath
The whole world is charged with the glory of God and I feel fire and music under my feet.
Thomas Merton
Nowhere can [a person] find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in [their] own soul.
Marcus Aurelius
The simplification of life is one of the steps to inner peace.
Peace Pilgrim
You can find peace amidst the storms that threaten you.
Joseph B. Wirthlin
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.
Henry David Thoreau
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa
Do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.
Saint Francis De Sales
Listen…
Here are a few short clips for listening, meditating, relaxing, healing…
10-minute sound bath experience.
30-minute crystal bowl meditation at Rothko Chapel in Houston TX.
1 hour of peaceful harp music.
15 minutes of deep meditation music, with lovely images.
6 minutes of melodic drum meditative music.
You can find many more clips, including some much longer ones, by searching online.
Sit With Scripture …
Here are a few bits of scripture for your reflection …
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
[Jesus said] Do not let your hearts be troubled.
John 14:1
[Jesus said] 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
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
Jesus rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Be silent! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm.
Mark 4:39
… and many other scriptures speak of peace in the midst of life.
Membership
This organization is open to all who are interested in spiritual formation/spiritual direction/retreat leadership, regardless of denominational affiliation.
Enrichment/educational/networking/community zooms are being held at intervals throughout each year.
Additional resources including: daily prayer guide, book reviews, etc. are available on our website and in our newsletters.
Please consider becoming a paid member if you are not already.
View the membership page on our website. There you will have the option to complete your member profile and pay online, or print a form and mail a check. (If you need help with the process, reply to this email.)
Have an event to share? Wondering what others are reading, or what practices they are finding helpful? Looking for a learning opportunity? Have questions about navigating the uncertainties of our times? Seeking support and encouragement? Want to discuss something with others?
Check out our Facebook page to engage in the conversation and make connections with others.
Special thanks to all who completed our recent survey. Your responses were very helpful!
Join our Upcoming Events
Recalibration LIVE! Zooms
September 12
MJ Cole
Group Spiritual Direction
(Registration will open soon.)
November 7
Khris Ford
Grief
Save the Date for Our 2027 In-Person Retreat
July 19-22, 2027
with Marilyn McEntyre (was our presenter on zoom in November 2024) @ Christ the King Passionist Retreat in Citrus Heights, California
(Fly into Sacramento SMF airport)
Topic/Theme for the Retreat:
NOTICINGS: Learning New Kinds of Attentiveness
In these sessions we’ll reflect on how to cultivate habits of attentiveness that keep us attuned to how the Spirit is guiding, directing, and teaching us. The more we notice how grace happens, the more we receive gifts we’re being offered and listen for the call of the moment, the freer we can become of anxieties that stoke the need to control. Beginning with a review of lectio divina, we’ll see ways to adapt that ancient practice as we “read” the information and invitations each day offers.
More information will be coming soon!
A Poem and a Practice
The glass of water says
The wind says, "Let me hold you."
A cloud mouths your name in silent prayer.
A bird intones an ancient chant:
"Beauty near! Beauty near!"
You walk under the street light,
an angel with one wing,
and she says,
"You, too, have this gift."
You cross the bridge,
patient on its hands and knees,
and it says, "Walk over my back
to your love."
You go along the frozen river,
and the black water moving underneath
says, "Already something in you
is arriving at God."
The steps you climb say,
"Yes, the whole world holds you in its lap."
The door says, "Go through! Go through!"
The wastebasket says, "I will relieve your burden."
The glass of water, with a twinkle in its eye,
says, "Yes, it's true. Beforehand,
long ago, we all agreed, all of us,
to bless you, and to go on blessing you."
~ Steve Garnaas-Holmes, from Unfolding Light: Poems, p. 94
A Simple Practice from Thich Nhat Hanh
You can renew yourself by getting in touch with the healing elements around you. You can also bring up refreshing images from your consciousness to nourish you. For example, when you’re in the middle of a busy city, you can recall what it’s like to be in the mountains or at the seaside:
Breathing in, I'm aware of the air.
Breathing out, I enjoy breathing the air.
(Aware of the air. Feeling joy.)
Breathing in, I'm aware of the sun.
Breathing out, I smile to the sun.
(Aware of sun. Smiling.)
Breathing in, I'm aware of the trees.
Breathing out, I smile to the trees.
(Aware of trees. Smiling.)
Breathing in, i'm aware of the children.
Breathing out, I smile to the children.
(Aware of children. Smiling)
Breathing in, I'm aware of the countryside air.
Breathing out, I smile to the countryside air.
(Countryside air. Smiling.)
from Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise, p. 89-90
