When I first sent my child on the bus off to school, it was this surreal moment. I watched him wave to me and give a scared little smile… and off the bus went. This long yellow vehicle took one of my most precious treasures off to a building away from me for six hours. Six hours where I would have no idea what he would be experiencing, when he had previously been in my care all day long and I knew exactly what he was doing. Would he get bullied? Would he make a new friend? Would he like his lunch? Would he be homesick? Would he tuck his shirt into his underwear and look all twisted coming out of the bathroom? Would he be safe?

That day, I had a choice. Actually, there were many little choices during my whole day. I could stay present and be where my feet are (as they like to say in the south) and do the work in front of me. Or I could live divided—my feet in one place but my mind in another. Trying to control the environment my child was in. Worrying about him. Letting anxiety tear me from the good work God set out for me to do that day. This idea of anxiety is to be divided. But God offers us shalom. He offers us peace. He offers wholeness. This week, let’s talk about peace.