WHEN THE DISHES ARE DONE
“Clink!” The plate slides into place.
As I turn to my side to pick up the next dish, there is no more “phewks!” I let the warm water run over my hands and let the peace sink in. No more dishes! “Finally!” I exhale deeply, and it feels as if the whole world is exhaling with me. The mess is gone. At the very least, this calls for a movie night with a friend. I deserve a treat, don’t you agree? Not that I need approval either way. In a world where conflict stretches far beyond battlefields, these small acts of care remind me that peace is deliberate. I’ll make my coffee. I let the heavy scent of it bloom in the air and carry me somewhere softer. The rhythm of the swirling kettle is music to my ears now. I am just in utopia, and I almost forget to turn it off, but only just in time, before it boils over.
I pour the dark liquid into my favorite ceramic mug and pause, letting the warmth bloom through the ceramic and into my hands. The warmth steadies me, and for a moment there is nowhere else to be. I gather my thoughts, and it feels like well-deserved grace that has been lacking for many days. The bitterness of the strong beverage is softened by the steam, and I can just take it all in and savor the moment.
It is astonishing how small tasks, once completed, ease the edges of my mind. As the clatter clears in the physical space, so does it in my psychological and emotional space. Peace comes from the little victories. I wish it could linger and stretch endlessly, but the day comes in ripples and each task in its own time. For now, I choose to stay with this moment.
This comfort feels like it is meant to be shared. It invites a lot. A clean place and a cup of coffee create room for laughter. Perhaps soon someone will sit with me. It’s easy to imagine another cup on the other side of the table with the steam rising. Pour a second cup and the conversation pours itself. This is the strange magic of coffee. Inviting someone to peace is more than the gentle gesture of the warm cup of coffee; it’s a calling to allow them to see that life is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.
Already anticipation is brewing. A movie night feels like a well-deserved celebration after a hectic day. Choosing a film is becoming its own ritual, scrolling through the options, imagining which story might carry us away. I can already picture the echoes of laughter filling the room. I can already feel the walls creeping nearer.
So I sit, letting the peace wash over me. Perhaps not tonight, but tomorrow, the movie can wait.
Tonight, the victory is mine—but tomorrow, peace can ripple outward, shared with others, reminding us that even small gestures matter in the pursuit of a calmer world.