“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
-Ecclesiastes 3:1
March 22, 2022
An Island of Peace Within One's Soul
Over the past two years, I, like many of you, have seen so much loss it is hard to grasp. Through this experience, I’ve learned to better appreciate the Ecclesiastical inference of a ‘reason or a season.’ (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8)
I lost a friend who entered my life for both. He was not like my several ‘best’ friends that I have known from childhood. I’ve known this man for less than ten years; he entered my life with a warm embrace that helped me develop to the woman I am.
Howard Thurman, in Meditations of the Heart “An Island of Peace Within One’s Soul,” writes “the only possibility for stability for the person, is to establish an island of peace within one’s own soul…Well within the island is the Temple where God dwells---the God of one’s heart…What a man is, what his plans are, what his authentic point is, where his life goes---all is available to him in the Presence.” Thurman describes this as discovering your “true home.”
During this time of Lenten sacrifice, I better appreciate what my friend clearly understood. He knew his “true home” and without referring to Dr. Thurman, his actions, shared the benefits of embracing my “true home.”
Prayer
Dear God, lead us, guide us along our way as we strive to define our true home. Amen.
Donna M. Bruce
Second Board of Stewards
Class Leader
Lent 2022
We invite you to join us on a 40-day journey of prayer, financial sacrifice, physical activity, and spiritual connection.
Each day a new reflection with a scripture and prayer will be posted on the Metropolitan AME Church website and social media to encourage you as we prepare for Resurrection join us as we are reminded, awakened to the great power of God within us, and connect to our role in building with God a world of justice.
Read along with us each day or download the book to read and write along with us offline.