As many who speak truth to power, I often wonder, where did their courage come from? On a more personal note, I ask myself, if I needed this much courage, where would I find the strength to have it?

Peace is more than the absence of conflict—it is the presence of justice, dignity, and wholeness. As you begin this week, consider how you might embody that peace on your campus, creating spaces where every person is seen, valued, and respected.

The end of the semester always comes with a bittersweet taste. We say farewell to students who have been part of the campus community during the early years of adulthood. These students were formed on our campuses. They will carry the values of your institution for the rest of their lives.

This week I noticed something new at my regular local coffee shop. They had mugs with their logo on one side. On the other side of the mug, it read, “Do good things today.” I smiled. I thought, “That is such a Methodist thing to say!”

To be people of Easter, resurrected people, is to live outside of fear. No threat of violence – physical, emotional, or otherwise – can compromise our sense of right and wrong. Life is not dependent on the whims of those who persecute us. Our life is built on the love of God. This is the message of Easter. As we live with this certainty, we will be people of the Resurrection.

Easter! In the Christian tradition, the season of Easter (or Eastertide) begins on Easter Sunday and runs for 50 days ending on the Sunday after Pentecost. For me, this is good news. For the 40 days of Lent, we have been in self-examination, often finding ways in which we fall short. Eastertide is also filled with self-reflection, but as a celebration of who we have become. Eastertide is a celebration of transformation.

Rev. Justin Colón, chaplain at Robinson School in San Juan, a missionary-founded girls’ school that has grown into an international, English-speaking co-ed prep school, says his work with students is grounded in a steady sense of hope shaped by his faith.

As I read the events of the last supper, I can’t help but notice the reaction of the disciples to the news that one of them would betray Jesus. They didn’t all look to Judas, pointing a finger at the obvious culprit. One by one, each questioned: Is it I, Lord? Could it be me?

I find peace in perspective. I also find strength, particularly when I feel overwhelmed. Perspective helps me understand that what is in front of me need not determine my fate. Japanese poet Nanao Sakaki said it best with his poem, "Break the Mirror."

Twenty years ago, a mentor saw me starting to burn out. He encouraged me to take a personal retreat. This was both renewal and challenge – could I let myself BE for just a couple of days? A part of the plan was to go to Olympic National Park, just to walk in the meadows. With no hat, no food, no extra water, and Birkenstocks on my feet, I headed into the mountains.