Shalom

 After feeling down at the beginning of the week, I've been encouraged by the friends and family who have talked, emailed and left comments on the blog (if you haven't read the comments to the post Far Far Away - they are really lovely and worth reading - Thank you to those who gifted your times and words!)

In Bible study on Thursday morning we were continuing through the beatitudes and spent most of the study on 'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called Sons of God.'  What is peace?  The idea of Shalom is so much more than an absence of conflict, but instead, is a sense that all is right in the world.  It is a glimpse of the Kingdom of God breaking in.   The kingdom is not here yet, but it is already here.  Since the study I've been pondering this idea of making shalom.  I have felt overwhelmed and busy over the past couple weeks.  Most of the things I have been busy with are things I love (sewing halloween costumes, preparing sunday lessons, getting ready to lead bible study, being intentional about activities for the boys...), but feeling pressured by all of these good things left me drained.  Making Shalom has been the thought I've carried the later part of this week, and while I've been just as 'busy', it has felt so different.  And part of making shalom is simply noticing where the kingdom breaks in; where the sacramental is in the everyday; where the extra is in the ordinary.