For Ukraine, For the Journey, For the Work Ahead

As I’m preparing to return in two weeks:

As I prepare to go,
May peace settle into the places where adrenaline and planning have taken the lead.
May my mind be clear, my body strong, and my heart soft enough to feel—
and steady enough to keep going.

May I remember that I am not going alone.
Not only are Clay and Rebekah beside me—
but so is every person who has ever whispered my name in prayer.
So is the Spirit of God, who goes before me and behind me,
who hems me in with mercy.

May the classrooms be sacred space.
Even if the lights flicker, or the tech fails, or the translations get tangled—
may grace fill in every gap.
May students feel the safety of my presence before I ever say a word.

May I have courage to teach what is hard,
gentleness to hold what is tender,
and wisdom to know the difference.
And when I’m tired,
may I remember that rest is holy, too.

May the Holy Spirit guide my words,
my pacing, my posture, and my pauses.
May the heaviness of trauma never outweigh the light of hope.
And may I be reminded again and again:
This work matters.
I am not alone.
I was made for this.