{"id":4072,"date":"2020-06-09T21:33:32","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T21:33:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doingwhatmatters.com\/?p=4072"},"modified":"2022-08-10T20:33:09","modified_gmt":"2022-08-11T00:33:09","slug":"remembering-what-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doingwhatmatters.com\/remembering-what-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Peacemaking and Mending Breaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Remembering Things that Matter<\/h2>\n

I rarely post anything about current events, but once in awhile, it happens. I’ve been thinking about peacemaking, mending breaches, and restoring what has been broken. For issues that have existed for years or decades or even centuries, there are no quick fixes, but there are some timeless things that can help in discerning what matters and what must be done.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As always when I’m at a loss for words, I begin with poetry, song, and scripture, and thorough these, I am reminded of the simple yet sometimes hard things that matter. Here are just a few of the things I’ve been dwelling with \u00a0in these troubled times.<\/p>\n

Blessed are the peacemakers<\/h2>\n

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
\nWhere there is hatred, let me sow love;
\nwhere there is injury, pardon;
\nwhere there is doubt, faith;
\nwhere there is despair, hope;
\nwhere there is darkness, light;
\nwhere there is sadness, joy.<\/p>\n

O Divine Master,
\ngrant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
\nto be understood as to understand;
\nto be loved as to love.
\nFor it is in giving that we receive;
\nit is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
\nand it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.<\/p>\n

\u2014 St. Francis of Assisi<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Contemplating the necessity of peacemaking takes me to Matthew 5<\/strong>, to the portion of Jesus’ teaching that we call the Beatitudes. They are all of a piece and each one matters deeply, but I have highlighted three that seem particularly apropos for this time.<\/div>\n