From Avalanche to Peace

an invitation for you

Sliding into 2025 from a rather eventful 2024 (mainly, my bearded furniture-making Englishman husband, Max and I moved back to England—moving countries has a lot of implications), I felt a pull toward peace.

I’ve not been one of those “word-for-the-year” people, but the last couple of years something’s come to mind as a theme I hope and pray for. This year is continuing with a focused inspiration: PEACE.

Here I am in a photo, smiling in the autumnal sunshine of Yorkshire countryside. Walking and being outside have become peaceful practices.

For a few years I’ve hosted some creative thoughts here on Substack about my Creativity Avalanche that I’m learning to ride on top of, rather than be suffocated by an avalanche of it all. I know many artists and writers…many who are mildly comfortable with the “I am creative” hat…have resonated with this sentiment.

I’ve shared about my paintings, my poetry, my typewriter, my books published, my faith, my novel, my podcast…so. many. things. Probably more. It’s felt like an avalanche. A beautiful one that resonates. Yes…

And, of course, it’s resonated with me as well as those with whom I’ve shared. And, I’m so thankful.

But, this year, I want something other than an anxious (albeit fun on somedays) avalanche.

This year, I want to offer peace. Peaceful moments. Peaceful poems. Peaceful reflections. Peaceful creating of sacred experiences. Peaceful prompts to get closer to God.

This photo is of sunrise over Lake Superior on the Park Point Beach in Duluth, Minnesota. This lake has been one of the more peaceful friends in my whole life.

In 2025, my life theme is PEACE. And, a phrase I continue to repeat is, “I am a peaceful finisher.”

Reflection has been crucial to my spiritual development, journaling has pointed to common themes in my faith where I feel invited to explore and heal and process.

I believe we’re all made in the image of the Creator God, so we are all creative. I’ve found that creating, capturing, and sharing Beauty has been an arrow of Hope that points to Peace. And, it’s my prayer that as you read this or listen to this, that you’d consider this invitation, too.

You are invited into peace.

It’d be an honor to get to accompany you along the way.

Each week, I’ll share resources to encourage your journaling practice, to help you grow closer to God with journaling.

This is for you, the woman of faith who longs for more confidence, clarity, courage, and connection, to find your voice and use it in compassionately creative ways as a beautiful arrow of hope in a dark world.

• For paid subscribers, I’ll share two posts a month with guided prompts to empower you to grow on the pages of your journal and to help you journal deeper on a specific theme. Each is designed like a gentle lesson to help you develop a confident and peaceful practice with beauty in art, nature, and words to inspire your faith.

• For all readers, I’ll share my own monthly reflections in response to my contemplative journey and to my favourite five questions:
  1. Who is in your life?
  2. What are you listening to?
  3. What are you reading?
  4. What are you eating?
  5. What are you creating?
  
  I’ll also share poems I’ve written with journaling tips and conversations I’ve had with friends about spiritual reflections for writers and thinkers.

Here is a photo of my Smith Corona Classic 12 typewriter in blue, my companion as I’ve processed my own emotions in prayer so that I can create peaceful containers for others to process and experience their own emotions in the form of poetry.

And so, you’re invited into peace. I look forward to being with you. See you along the journey.

Molly

P.S. One more thing…I’ll leave you with a poem I wrote for a woman who longs to live out her faith in a real way. May her faith and my poem encourage you today.

“The YES Path”
By: Molly Ovenden

This straight and narrow path I’m called to–
This rhythm of daily showing up, too,
This anthem I teach my children,
This anthem I sing to you:
Here I am. I am Here with you.

In shadows I bring this torch,
This light that guides
Far enough illuminating.
Though some days I doubt,
I’m committed to staying without hesitation:
Here I am. I am Here with you.

In bright shining lights
This shame overwhelms,
This weird tug-of-war,
This “barely getting by.”
Here I am. I am Here with you.

Determined to focus
Determined to fly
Determined to freedom
Determined to glorify.
Here I am. I am Here with you.

This straight and narrow path I’m called to–
This rhythm of daily showing up, too,
This anthem: It is all for you!
Here I am. I am Here with you.

Thank you for joining me. Thank you for your presence.
Until next time, I shall leave you with an open invitation to peace.

Click Here to purchase your copy of Closer: Spiritual Reflections for Writers & Thinkers by Molly Ovenden.