Weavings is a monthly reflection that is the collective effort of the Wheaton Franciscan Covenant Companions and Sisters to provide spiritual nourishment that helps us feel God’s presence in daily living and invite an openness to God.
Go Forth Into The World In Peace
by Jamie Nicholas, Wheaton Franciscan Associate
When I was asked to write a post about my experience working with the Weavings reflections through our digital communications channels, I was happy to offer my insight. Then writer’s block set in and the days turned into weeks.
Like most of us who have a list of responsibilities that accompany our work, distributing the reflections is part of my tasks as an associate of the Wheaton Franciscans. Staring at the blank page and its blinking cursor taunting me, I thought, “I do what is required of me; is there meaning in that?” I found myself in my head, worrying about not having anything to say or, worse, saying the wrong thing, and nervous about sharing something publicly (I’m rather shy, you see).
With the deadline looming, I went straight to God for guidance. His answer came through music and memory. Music is one of the primary ways I connect with God and a fundamental part of my life. During the autumn of my freshman semester at college in Chicago, I listened endlessly to “The Very Best of John Rutter,” a choral album of both religious and secular pieces created by one of my favorite modern composers. I hadn’t listened to it in years.
After I pressed play, the melodies brought me back to crisp walks in Grant Park, people-watching from my apartment window, trying a pumpkin spice latte the year it premiered at Starbucks, and figuring out what to do with my newfound adulthood. I pondered how God was in all those little moments, sharing joy, comforting sadness, quelling anger, and filling the space with His steady presence during calm and quiet times.
Thousands of experiences and choices later, I am in my fifth year with the Wheaton Franciscans, and I have had the honor of reading about other people’s moments with God through Weavings. It is a privilege working with Vickie, Carol, and Dave to share the varied Weavings reflections with you. From poems to book clubs, the simple pleasure of a morning walk, the joy of family, and the magic of watching tomatoes grow, we’ve quietly benefited from the insights and openness of those who choose to share a piece of their spiritual journey with us.
And there lies the meaning. While I arrange the text and images, each reflection is a piece of the author’s spirit and deserves the care and respect of such a personal offering. More than that, I have the privilege of witnessing the many ways people encounter God in the ordinary moments of their lives.
That John Rutter album reminded me of one of his compositions, “Go Forth into the World in Peace”; the words have stayed with me: “Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good.” The words are an invitation not to step away from the world in search of God, but to go into it—to live, to love, to serve, to notice, and to carry God’s presence with us.
Perhaps that is what Weavings has come to mean to me. These reflections are stories of people doing just that: going forth into the world and finding God along the way. By sharing those moments, they invite the rest of us to notice them, too.
And maybe that is what I was struggling to put into words when I first sat down to write. I thought I was being asked to explain why I share the Weavings reflections. Instead, I found myself contemplating why they matter. What began as one of my responsibilities has become an opportunity to listen, to notice, and to share those glimpses of God’s presence with others.
That feels like a pretty meaningful thing to be asked to do.