THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Offaly columnist ponders on finding peace in the storm

HOW are you — really? Not the polite answer you give in passing, but in the hidden places of your heart and soul. In a world pulsing with conflict, noise, and uncertainty, are you at rest or barely hanging on? Busyness has become a badge of honour.

Anxiety, a constant hum beneath our days. We live in a culture that shouts for our attention yet leaves our souls starving. Even as people of faith, we are not immune. Many of us struggle to find time to read the Word or sit quietly with our Saviour. And while we might appear calm on the outside, our inner world is often anything but peaceful.

Broken world

Our world is broken. Everywhere we look, the shadows of heartache, despair, war, abuse, hate, greed, racism and pain stretch long and wide. The needs are overwhelming, and it can feel like an impossible task to know what to do. Yet in this time of great uncertainty and fear, the call for peace rises above all else, a call that asks us to reflect deeply and act with courage. Life brings storms. Sometimes they sweep in suddenly, the loss of a job, the ending of a relationship, the diagnosis you never expected, the empty chair at the table where a loved one once sat or war and conflict breaks out in one's home or in one's homeland. In those moments, the waves feel high and the wind relentless.

The disciples knew that feeling. On a stormy night, they cried out to Jesus, “Don’t you care that we are dying?” Yet Jesus, calm and at rest, spoke three words that stilled the sea: “Peace. Be still.” (Mark 4:39) The truth is, even in His presence, storms still come. But the difference is how we weather them. The disciples surrendered to fear; Jesus rested in peace. We have the same choice.

READ MORE: Farming keeps the country going, in good times and in bad times, Tanaiste tells Tullamore Show

Precious gifts

Pope Leo recently reminded us that peace and human dignity are precious gifts, urging us not to "give into the logic of demands and war." How true this is. War never solves; it only destroys. It steals lives, deepens hatred, fuels revenge, and erases futures. Already this year, we have witnessed too many lives lost, too many children killed, families torn apart, communities shattered.

Our earth suffers alongside us, as conflict scars not only human hearts but the very soil and air we depend on. Yet, despite this brokenness, there is a flicker of hope. Daily, each one of us yearns for peace, peace in our homes, in our hearts, in our communities, and in the vast world beyond. Our Lord’s words ring out through time: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27). This peace is a common heritage we share, crossing borders and differences. We are one family under God. As the prophet Malachi asks, “Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?” (Mal. 2:10).

Peace is fragile

No matter our language, culture, or skin color, we all harbor the same hopes, the same fears. We crave love, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, and mercy. How powerful it would be if we, together, committed to pray for peace, not just as a fleeting thought but as a daily act of faith and love. Prayer is the seed of peace; it nurtures the roots of hope and courage within us.

Through prayer, we declare that love, mercy, and justice are stronger than fear, greed, and violence. But peace is fragile, a gift that requires constant tending. It is like a delicate plant, left unattended, it withers. Peace demands vigilance, hard work, and endurance. It is not a task we can set aside at the end of the day. Peacemaking is a lifelong commitment, a journey of prayer and action. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matt 5:9). "Blessed are those who do not rest, who walk the extra mile, who show compassion to strangers, and who turn swords into ploughshares." (Isaiah 2:4).

READ NEXT: Sadness at passing of one of Tullamore's most beloved citizens

Our responsibility

This work of peace is deeply personal and profoundly communal. We must invite Jesus, the Prince of Peace into our hearts, so His spirit can take root in the world through us. Like Him, we are called to subvert hatred with love and greed with generosity. This is not easy, it takes courage, humility, and unwavering faith. Since January 1st, I have committed myself to pray for peace every day, for my own heart, my family, my friends, my neighbours, my colleagues, my country, and the world. This is not just a wish but a responsibility. Many who labor daily to build peace do so quietly, in small acts of kindness and courage, often amidst suffering.

Let us dedicate ourselves to banishing violence from our words, thoughts, and actions, building communities rooted in nonviolence and care for our common home. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is a way of being, rooted in justice, liberty, equality, and solidarity. It calls us to embrace all life as sacred and to recognize the needs of others as our own. The truth is stark: nearly two billion people live in countries riven by conflict and violence, struggling just to survive. The inequality between rich and poor, the selfishness of unbridled capitalism, and the hunger for power continue to fuel discord and pain.

Deep-rooted peace

We long for leaders who carry a vision bigger than themselves—leaders who set aside selfish desires and open their hearts to the dream of universal peace. True peace is not built on power, domination, or violence. It is fragile and yet fiercely strong, born from acts of friendship, trust, forgiveness, and humility. It is the kind of peace that history’s greatest souls have known and fought for, Saint Francis, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and many more saints and people, people who understood that love and nonviolence hold a power far greater than any weapon or harsh word.

These remarkable lives show us that peace is not naïve or passive. It is courage in the face of hatred, patience amid injustice, and the willingness to walk humbly together despite our differences. The peace we seek is not some distant dream or fragile fantasy, it is a reality born in the quiet moments of prayer, perseverance, and hope. It is finding calm in the storms that batter our lives, strength when everything inside us feels weak. Even when the world feels overwhelming, full of noise, pain, and uncertainty, we can choose to trust God. This is not an escape from hardship, but a brave endurance.

It is a commitment to live with kindness, mercy, and forgiveness deeply rooted in our hearts. The world often tries to define peace as mere absence of trouble, a quiet day, a calm sea, but Jesus invites us into a peace far deeper and more lasting than circumstances could ever offer. He said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). His peace is not the absence of storms, but His presence within them. It is a steady calm that refuses to be shaken, a quiet confidence that flows from knowing Christ has won the victory over sin, fear, and death. This peace grows within us as we release our worries to God in prayer, as we meditate on His promises, and as we choose to follow His ways day by day. No matter how chaotic or broken life becomes, we can rest in the truth that God is sovereign and is weaving all things together for good (Romans 8:28).

READ NEXT: End of an era as Fergie's Bar in Tullamore changes hands after 30 years

Perfect peace

If you find yourself battling anxiety, fear, or stress, remember this simple truth: No peace? Know Peace. Without knowing the perfect peace of God, the world’s noise will always overwhelm us. But when we know Him and actively seek His peace, we find stability even in the storm. As one beautiful truth says: “Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.” The peace the world offers is temporary and fragile, like a band-aid over a deep wound. But God’s peace is enduring, real, and powerful. It stands firm against fear, calms anxiety, comforts the hurting, and breathes security into our very souls. God sent His Son, Jesus, the pure essence of peace, to give us this lasting peace, peace that sustains us through every challenge, every moment of uncertainty, and every trial we face.

There is a beautiful story from my Nana Scully’s prayer book that speaks to this so deeply: "A king offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace. One painting showed a serene lake under blue skies, a perfect calm. Another showed wild waterfalls, stormy mountains, and chaos—but behind the roaring falls was a small bush where a mother bird sat peacefully in her nest. The king chose the second painting, saying, “Peace is not being in a place where there is no noise or trouble. Peace means being calm in your heart amidst those things.” That is the peace we are called to embody, not a fragile stillness or an escape from life’s struggles, but a deep-rooted calm that carries us through every challenge, every fear, every heartbreak. It is a peace born in the presence of God, a peace that breathes strength into our weary souls and lights the way forward when all seems dark. May we be inspired by the peacemakers before us. May we open our hearts wide to God’s peace, the peace that heals, restores, and transforms. And may we carry that peace with us, shining like a beacon in a world desperate for hope. I’m reminded of the painting Peace in the Midst of the Storm by Jack E. Dawson, a mother bird, serene in her nest under a rocky ledge, while a waterfall crashes around her. She is sheltered, safe, and unshaken. That’s the kind of peace God offers, the kind Isaiah spoke of: “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord… is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:3-4.). The world will see our faith most clearly not when the sun is shining, but when the winds howl and we are still. May we live as vessels of God’s peace, reflecting His calm to a watching world, trusting that He is with us in every storm. And above the noise, may we hear Him whisper, “Peace. Be still.”

Thought for the week

As your thought for the Week, reflect on how you can protect our precious peace. As Mother Teresa said: "The fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace." And so we pray: 'Lord Jesus, We thank You for the peace You freely give, peace unlike anything the world can offer. When our hearts are troubled and our minds filled with fear, remind us of Your presence with us. Calm our anxious thoughts and steady our souls. Teach us to surrender our worries to You in prayer. Help us to meditate on Your promises and to walk faithfully in Your ways. Let Your peace, which transcends all understanding, guard our hearts and minds. In the midst of life’s storms, may we rest in the assurance of Your love and sovereignty. Strengthen us to be steadfast, knowing that You have overcome the world. Help us to carry Your peace into our homes, our communities, and our world, becoming instruments of Your calming grace.

On this day Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Replace suspicion with trust. Share some treasures. Give a soft answer. Encourage the young. Care for the elderly. Keep a promise. Forgive an enemy. Pray. Meditate. Listen. Love. Speak peace. Speak it again. Speak it still once more. May the Holy Spirit, who brought Christ to life in Mary, bring the Prince of Peace to life in us. May peace begin with you. May it begin with me. May it begin today. May the Virgin Mary, who cradled the Prince of Peace, intercede for us. May the Holy Spirit guide our steps and strengthen us to be peacemakers in a world desperate for light. Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. Let us be those peacemakers. Let us hold fast to hope, work tirelessly for justice, and love without end. For peace is the most precious possession of humanity, more valuable than diamonds or gold, more vital than any treasure. May we all live in peace together and may we hear Him whisper, whatever storm in life we may face, "Peace. Be Still.". We ask this in Your holy name. Amen'.