PEACE
BE
STILL
David McDermott
Copyright 2012 David McDermott,
All rights reserved.
Published in eBook format by eBookIt.com
ISBN-13: 978-1-4566-0761-6
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to my sister Joyce.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the following people for their reviews and suggestions:
Julia Bolton Holloway- author
Fr John Michael ofm- author and priest
Brother Edward Egan CFC Congregation of Christian Brothers, retired teacher.
Traben Hass-author and associate Pastor
Deborah Voorhees-formerly of The Order of Julian.
Maria Kozak Gullo-Director www.thecontemplativeway.org
Debra Classen-author and Director www.contemplative-prayer.org
Also thanks and credit to Maria Hiles for the photographs of the stained glass windows from Penmon Priory, Anglesey and of the Priory itself. You can find her photographs on Yahoo Flicker. Kind permission to use the photographs was given by Penmon Priory church.
ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR
“Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love”
TRANSALTED FROM JULIAN OF NORWICH
INTRODUCTION
When I had completed the text for my first book, “Prayers from Revelations of Divine Love,” I had started to consider publication when my uncle died. He had been the youngest amongst his brothers and sisters. He had never married and lived with his sister in the family home. She was the eldest who had also not married. When he died she was then one hundred years old. She was still of sound mind and active, determined not to go into a home.
After the funeral my sister and my brother-in-law went to Anglesey in North Wales for a short break. While I was there my mind was in turmoil over the issue of the care of my aunt. My cousin had stepped in and was caring for her, but it was going to be too much for one person to bear. I can remember thinking about the folder I had at home waiting for action on the one hand and on the other hand the decision as to whether I would help care for my aunt.
While we were on the visit to Anglesey we went to Penmon Priory. The Priory is now in ruins but the church is still in use and was open, and there is still a healing well there. When we entered the church we all remarked about the beauty and sense of peace in the church. There was a room where you could leave prayer requests and light candles. There are many beautiful stained glass windows in the church. As I sat near the back of the church I was especially struck by one window. It depicted our Lord Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with his fearful disciples around him. Our Lord’s hand is raised and above him is written the words, “Peace be still.”
After the visit to the priory I began to contemplate on the window and our Lord commanding the sea to be still. Throughout the rest of the break we went to Church bay and others that I remembered as a child. The beauty of the Island and the sounds of nature were very restorative but my mind was still in turmoil. Sometimes I would wake up and not be able to go back to sleep thinking about it. One night I thought of our Lord’s words, “Peace be still,” and I thought about letting go of my own thoughts and imagining the storm of my own mind being calmed by our Lord. I imagined my desire to lay my head on the Lord’s breast, not petitioning him for anything but laying my head down as a trustful child. As I stopped thinking my own thoughts and imagined that scene on the boat I began to feel a sense of peace within. I fell asleep and when I awoke I felt for the first time that I would be able to have peace by letting go of my own agenda which had seemed so urgent. After waking refreshed I felt guidance to let go and let God guide me. I went into my study and put the folder away containing the text for my book and all the papers relating to it.
I went to live at my aunt’s house, coming back to my own house once a week when my cousin helped by coming up for an afternoon. My other cousin who first stepped in to help continued to visit, giving me a break.
My aunt had many visitors from the church that she still attended and that gave me a break in the afternoons. During the breaks I was able to go out for walks, there was a large beautiful park nearby that I enjoyed throughout the remaining seasons that my aunt survived.
Throughout those breaks I began to contemplate on the stained glass window with the words, “Peace be still.” I had the inspiration for the first prayer of my second book that I based on my experience. I thought I would call the book, “Peace be still.” On those walks I had inspiration for other prayers and made notes when I could.
My aunt survived her brother by just over another year. She died on Christmas Eve, missing her one hundred and second Birthday on 10th January. Up until her death she was still active going to the church and shops when she could. After her death me, my sister and cousins cleared the house and I saw to the probate.
When everything was completed I took up the folder and began to look for a publisher. My first book was published two and a half years after I had completed it. Looking back now five years after it was completed I see that peace came not in my own agenda, or in my will that seemed so urgent, but in our Lord’s agenda in what seemed to be his will. My book was merely postponed from publication, but through the turmoil and anguish of that decision to postpone the inspiration for the second book was given.
Throughout our lives they say that we will either care for someone or we will be cared for, and sometimes we have to make decisions and sacrifices for loved ones. We also will all face trials and tribulations in our lives. The mystic Julian of Norwich wrote that our Lord revealed that we will be tempest tossed, we will be work weary, we will be discomforted, but we will not be overcome.
I pray that as you read these prayers you will reflect on any turmoil in your life and remember the words, “Peace be still.” If the Lord could calm the seas in a storm then just as he cares for his children with infinite love so he will calm the storms of their turmoil. Just turn to him as a trusting child, seek his love within by following the guidance of his will.
PREFACE
I have divided these prayers into three parts. The first part is prayers reflecting on the fruit of the living
