Let There Be Peace

June 3, 2020 — Peace. “And love,” says this card inside. Saint Teresa’s Prayer was a favorite of my late mother … it was finding a well-worn copy tucked away in her wallet that prompted me to publish it on a card. Because peace in the world begins in each of our hearts, we’d like to nurture that by adding two of this card free — one for you and one for someone who may gain comfort from it — with every order placed now through Friday, June 12. We’ll do this automatically; so add this card to your cart only if you’d like more than your complimentary two.

Last Friday, I was in a virtual meeting with our Cardie Community Manager Jayme when a text told me a grocery delivery was minutes away. “I’ll need to break for a sec,” I warned Jayme, who rightly said, “but aren’t they to leave it outside the door anyway?” Yes, I said, “But I want to mask-up and say hello to this particular shopper — she and I always laugh that we’re the black and white versions of one :) Both our given names are Joanna, we’re the same age, same height, and neither of us has ever met a stranger.” Mask on, I opened the door and, through Joanna’s mask, heard her joyful, “There’s my spiritual sister!!!”

Over the weekend, photographer Mauri Truesdell emailed from Washington, Missouri, “A friend who finds your cards locally suggested I submit some of my images, so I decided to take her advice and send these.” In my response to Mauri, I said that we especially loved the top photo shown above; so poignant given the tumultuous times. “I spotted these three one hot summer evening a few years ago,” Mauri answered, “They were sure having a good time. The beauty of color … there in black and white. If only we could all see through the eyes of a child.”

Given that one of our favorite Cardies — full-of-life Judy Cortner — also resides in Washington, Missouri, I sent her the image and asked if she might have sent us Mauri. “Wasn’t me,” Judy replied, “but seeing her photo of the kids at the fountain reminded me of this pic a friend sent me of her granddaughter hand-in-hand with her BFF. Fun story: The two were heading into the water park at Six Flags over Mid-America, so excited to spend the day inseparably that one was heard saying, ‘I bet everyone will think we’re sisters!’”

Dear fellow children of God, we are all sisters and brothers. Joanna, Mauri, Judy, you, me. Some of us love going to the grocery, while others prefer to hole up and write. Some of us make cards; all of us love sending them. Some of us march to make a point; others make our points with our pens.

For Cardies who’d like to voice their hopes for change to the powers that be, we’ve created the Act NOW postcard you see below. If you’ve been part of our community awhile, you’ll recall that — after the horrific Parkland school shooting in 2018 — we created Please Listen postcards with which to express views on gun control. Collectively, our Cardies have now sent more than 35,000 of these on a whole host of issues to lawmakers nationwide. Act NOW came to be because, in the words of Cardie Gloria Dougherty who inspired the Please Listen campaign, “We’ve asked politely. It’s time to demand action.” Both postcards can be used for any concern that moves you and will always be free for the asking.

Write your truth, Cardies. And “May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.”

jodee stevens
founder & chief creative