Justice, peace and the integrity of creation

I’ve been invited to attend a three day retreat that’s focus is on Franciscan peacemaking. I’ll be traveling eleven or twelve hours by car to attend this event at the invitation of a friend who is a friar from nearby Mt. Irenaeus. I’ve been doing a lot of praying and meditating lately. I’ve made contemplation a focus during Lent. Maybe this invitation is some of the fruit of this effort. I’m looking forward to the trip with some anticipation and thought. I think at times of Merton’s prayer, “

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
And the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean that I am
actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please
you does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire in all
that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this, you
will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death, I will
not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.