I was out with the dogs just a few minutes ago, and the church bells were ringing a song that seemed familiar. As we walked through town, the tune kept resonating in my head, until we were got to our driveway and the words finally came to me: “Make me an instrument of your peace …”
I have no idea why the church bells would be ringing at 3 PM on a Monday, or why that song was playing. But as the fall breezes blew and the last of the autumn sun shone down, hearing the song was a good reminder that in everything I do, I ought to be looking to the God who loves me, to do His will and to be an instrument for His peace. To be more concerned with understanding others than being understood myself, to loving more than being loved, to be looking out for the needs of other rather than focusing on myself.
Here are the lyrics, if you’ve never heard the song. I remember it being “instrument” of peace instead of “channel” but either way, it’s still a lovely hymn:

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me bring your love,
Where there is injury your pardon Lord,
And where there’s doubt true faith in you.

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

O Master grant that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

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