Preparing for Peace

A few years ago, I got really into hiking. We are blessed to live minutes away from the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, with its gorgeous trails and scenic views of Lake Michigan. In the beginning, I would just get up and go, throwing on some tennis shoes and setting off into the woods with enthusiasm until, inevitably, some small setback would dampen my exuberance and make the five miles feel like ten. Once, it was because I had one sharp toenail digging into another toe; another time it was winter and my lips were chapped and windburned. And then there was the hike when my no-show socks kept slipping down into my shoe. Each of these experiences taught me the value of preparedness and helped me create a checklist of things required for a successful hike, including:

Chapstick

Water

Protein Bars

Proper hiking socks

Proper hiking shoes

I learned proper layering (base layer, mid layer, outer layer), and to always make sure my toenails were trimmed! When I make the time and effort to plan ahead, hiking is a glorious and invigorating hobby, great for my body, mind, and soul! 

As a textbook “Type B” personality, I'm thankful to say that preparedness is an area where I've made great strides since embarking on this Filled With Less intentional living journey. For decades, it never really dawned on me how much of my frustration, joylessness, and overwhelm came from “winging it.” Sleeping in as late as possible, hitting the ground running, and impulsively reacting to every stressful stimulus I encountered kept me flustered and exhausted. I kept thinking it was my circumstances and other people who needed to change, but, of course, it was me, which was a hopeful realization! Peace, joy, health, and stability were within reach, but I needed a plan to access and maintain those core values daily.

Seven years later, I cannot imagine beginning my day without a few moments of purposeful preparation, where I set my intention to yield my own will and expectations to God’s will, to guard my thoughts and tongue, to release my loved ones to Christ, to schedule in movement and healthy meal planning, to check the calendar for any appointments I need to be aware of, and to prioritize growth, simplicity, and connection. 

I’ve learned that always keeping healthy snacks in my bag protects me from grumpiness and afternoon slumps. I’ve learned that praying before a conversation helps me listen attentively and speak words that uplift. I’ve learned that keeping my Kindle with me at all times prevents me from scrolling on my phone. I’ve learned that 30 minutes of tidying can turn your whole day around. 

Every setback and challenge I come up against is an opportunity to get creative and proactive about problem-solving. One of my favorite questions for getting unstuck from a rut or dead-end thinking is:

“What is possible in this situation?”

In The Hobbit, J.R. Tolkien wrote: "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him."  In this day and age, that "live dragon" can look like any form of distraction or temptation that leads to despondency, pride, or spiritual barrenness. In his 55 Maxims for Christian Living, Fr. Hopko said, "Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath."

Preparedness is power: awareness, vigilance, and liberation. It is intentionally protecting your inner calm while actively seeking and pursuing growth and fruitfulness no matter what's going on in the world around you.  Reflect on a few of your most common vulnerabilities. Are they envy? Disorganization? Comparisons? Perfectionism? Procrastination? Catastrophizing? Negative self-talk? Once you have clarity on what is sabotaging your peace and joy, you can actually do something about it!

 Make a checklist of what you need to successfully navigate around those familiar landmines and keep moving forward. For me, that looks like prayer (lots of it), stillness (lots of it), avoiding certain content and types of conversation, staying on task, filling up on creativity and gratitude, plugging into intentional living communities, and fostering positive interactions. 

Start small: one new nourishing ritual, one new tweak to your schedule or perspective, one new healthy boundary, or one decluttered living space. The good news is it doesn’t matter where you begin! Any positive movement will create the momentum you need for linear progress and transformation. 

Life is an epic, salvific journey through great heights and depths, hurricanes and sunsets, dangers and breathtaking beauty.  Christ has promised rest and resurrection for all who bravely stay the course and trust Him to guide, strengthen, renew, and protect them. As with any adventure, however, preparedness is absolutely essential! 

So grab your hiking shoes, water bottle, and chapstick! A new day has dawned, and we’ve got mountains to climb!

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