Moving Forward in Peace

Theme for 2026 & Open Prayer Request Thread

Happy New Year, and Happy last day of the Christmas season!¹

Haven’t had much to say lately, and even less mental space in which to carve out time to say it. We’ll get there. As one does this time I’ve of year, I’ve been doing some discerning about priorities.

My sister tricked me into Magnify 90 again, which I needed, though so far it’s just a soft launch as I figure out where to adjust the plan and where to adjust me. It’s good for helping with that discernment process.

Meanwhile, the Buddhist Monks for Peace have been traversing South Carolina, and the SuperHusband got out yesterday and watched them pass by. He said it was very moving not because of anything particular about the monks themselves (he is Catholic), but because it was so encouraging to see so many people lined up on the road who also want peace.

This is good to know. The internet and other media are full of people who do not want peace. It’s easy to imagine they are everybody. They are not everybody.

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In thinking about the year ahead, of course like everyone I have a list of things I want to make happen. I also having many years of experience in discovering that very reasonable, normal goals can suddenly become out of reach.

So. This year’s goal: Just keep on trying to move forward. Try to avoid the things that I know for a fact will sabotage my priorities, and to the extent that the Lord gives me a day when it’s possible to move forward, I move forward.

But no recriminations about not meeting some ideal imaginary metric that was not actually possible. Just: Did I do what I could to move forward? In holiness? In my vocation? In stewardship of what has been entrusted to me?

Related: Examinations of conscience on the fly. Don’t wait until bedtime to repent! Just acknowledge your sin and say your act of contrition right now and reset your day. And then when you do take a step on the path of holiness, give thanks for it right now! You’re five minutes holier than you were, and that’s no small thing.

Artwork: The Baptism of Christ, and here’s the Wikimedia details because honestly the filename vs. the description details conflict a little? Or don’t? But this particular Jesus does remind me of my childhood absolutely freezing during swim lessons. So it’s not just fine art, it’s relatable art.

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How can we pray for you today?

It’s time for another prayer request thread. What challenges are you facing in the new year? Where do you need discernment? Where you are struggling, suffering, grieving — maybe even despairing? And for what would you like us to give thanks and praise to the Lord, who loves you so much?

Combox for this post is open to all readers, so that you can share your prayer requests. I know for a fact we have some readers here with a gift for intercessory prayer, so please avail yourself!

Thanks for being here, and have a blessed few weeks as we look ahead to Lent.

1. Well sure, I’ll keep a little Nativity out at least until the 2nd. But I think I’m ready to get back the sunlight currently being blocked by the Christmas tree.