Minor Prophet Habakkuk laments to God and shares his frustration at the wickedness he sees around him. Feels familiar. God answers that if it seems like justice has not come, to wait, for it is coming. When there are destructive hurricanes, corruption, children going hungry, and all that we lament in our world, we can cry out and like Habakkuk who stands his post and keeps watch, we can engage in active waiting on God's justice. We can volunteer, we can sow seeds of kindness, we can continue to act with justice and mercy, and we can continue to cry out to God. So this week, don't just wait, but actively wait and work for God's unfolding justice is coming.

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Thomas Cahill's book "How the Irish Saved Civilization" walks through the downfall of the Roman Empire and how in the chaos the world almost lost all of the classic literature, poetry, theology, philosophy and that once Rome fell, there were no more great buildings or master art. When chaos ensures, creativity dies.

Enter Ireland. Unconquered by Rome and a place where monks copied Scripture, poetry, theology, all of the Greek and Latin classics and thus preserved it for a later time.

In chaos, it is important that we find ways to create joy and beauty. Writing, singing, playing an instrument, reading, walking in nature are all ways in which we can fight the chaos.

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St Brigid of Kildare was one of the historical people I encountered on my pilgrimage to Ireland. She was a bold figure and her historic life was mixed with the folklore. She established a monastery in Kildare where nuns and monks worked, lived and prayed side by side. Her leadership was recognized and she was made a Bishop - which the church later denied. I wondered what she might have to say to us in this time. I think she would respond that the need for peace must come from within before it can be shared with others.

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