I Have Peace. Philippians 4:7

  "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds though Christ Jesus." NKJV
  "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." JCB

  Long before I went on holiday, a restlessness had filled my soul. A yearning for something different. A friend pointed out to me yesterday that being bored and frustrated by the status quo is actually a sign I am thinking about what's going to come next...the future...What will I be when I grow up?
  A few years ago, I thought about becoming an art therapist. The Toronto based school accepted my age and experiences as sufficient to attend this post-graduate program. All that was needed were a couple of university level psychology courses to prove I could write a university level paper.
  It didn't go well. Five weeks into the course, my first test sent me into a storm of anxiety. I froze, forgetting all I'd learned. Trying to do research online to write my first paper utterly overwhelmed me. I ended up leaving.
  The dream died.
  But that was then. This is now.
  This friend also had a suggestion. While I am fuzzy on all the details, the essence of Opportunity came through loud and clear.
  It's an apprenticeship program that uses art to delve into matters of the heart. Based on Aboriginal values like community and supporting one another, I get the sense that it will combine all the creativity the Lord blessed me with as well as the knowledge and skills learned through being a peer support worker.
  It's not the first time this friend has spoken to me about this Aboriginal program for indigenous and non-indigenous people. Until yesterday, I didn't feel ready to embark on a new journey. Until yesterday, I was reluctant to take this step. Until yesterday, I hadn't really thought about it being a wonderful opportunity to meet people of like minds. Until yesterday, I hadn't realized it was an answer to the unfulfilled dream of years ago.
  One of my greatest passions is being able to provide the opportunity for others to unlock their creativity, their inner artist's voice. This apprenticeship program is the first step in being able to do just that outside of a mental health venue and the small creative workshops I run at the centre.
  After my friend shared of her own experiences, I gained further confidence that this is for me.
  The restless, lonely voice has been stilled as I embrace the peace, the unwavering belief that this is where I need to be. It's a peace born of the knowledge that what lay ahead is far greater than anything I could imagine.
  That, my friends, is a first.