Peace is...

So if you don't know, this year I am doing my practicum at Peace Community Center on Hilltop in Tacoma. I started in September and get to be there until June. I love it. Underscore on the love. I feel blessed to get to be a part of the lives of our amazing high schoolers and see the perseverence and strength in our kids. They have had to overcome some pretty tall obstacles to get where they are and getting to help them over some hurdles and rejoice in their successes makes me pretty happy. Last week we had a staff retreat and I was lucky enough to get to attend.

The first day we spent some time reflecting on "What is Peace", specifically talking about the mission of the community center and where we see peace in our work with the students. However this discussion expanded to where we see peace in our everyday lives, and in the moment I wasn't very eloquent with my thoughts (imagine that!). After having a few days to reflect I have come up with a list (wow, what a suprise) of times that mean peace to me. This list is in no way exclusive and I am sure there are many many many things I am leaving out.


Peace is-
... waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee
... a trail ride after a long day of work in the summer
... taking a shower after a long day of teaching lessons and standing there under the hot water for 10 minutes because I am waiting for my body to not be numb from the cold
... sitting under a blanket with some cocoa
... reading a good book before bed
... the smell of saltwater in the morning
... iced white chocolate americanos
... laughing so hard that you cry and/or pee a little
... driving out to Enumclaw towards the mountain in the morning and seeing the clouds evaporate over the mountain
... feeling safe in someone's arms
... any music by Joshua Radin
... brownie batter
... the smell of horses on your skin and clothes long after being at the barn
... sitting around with friends on a lazy Saturday when it's raining outside
... driving on I-90 from spokane-tacoma with loud music and the cruise control on
... walking on ruston way, anytime, rain or shine
... the orange color of the sky and the silence of the world before it snows
... driving down a country road with nowhere to go, just to drive
... the last class of the quarter
... soundview camp
... swinging on a swingset
... the end of our church service at manitou, standing in a circle and holding hands, and feeling a part of the community


I challenge you, where are places or times in your life where you have felt peace? It could even be just for a fleeting moment or for a little longer. It takes a little extra concentration, but I think I can firmly say that some of the most profound moments of peace in my life have been amongst chaos. This week I am going to try and slow down and find those moments of peace in each day.