Finding peace in the age of COVID, political upheaval, climate change and the ongoing conflicts around racial reconciliation is a tall order. As fragmented as we feel in this Advent season, there is a word of hope for us. Scripture reminds us that when we seek God’s presence in our life we are opened to the experience of “the peace that passes all understanding.” The witness to this reminds us that even in the most chaotic and bleak moments of our life and history, God is present, and peace is possible.

The path toward this peace encourages us to rethink how we approach prayer. We can engage in a contemplative form of prayer that brings our greatest need into the full light of God’s grace. Rather than an escape, forms of contemplative and meditative prayer help us to become immersed in God’s life-giving presence in our life here and now.

As we grow in our ability to practice this rhythm in our life, we begin to see that peace is not some ethereal, other worldly escape from reality. In fact, what we can experience is best described in line with the Hebrew concept of Shalom. We can experience wholeness in all of our relationships with God, others and our self, even when conflict, uncertainty and fear are present. This is a powerful gift that will enable us to not only get through this season of grief, but it will bring us into a new day of hope, healing and life.