It’s such a simple word. Six letters. A handful of sounds. But every time my brother says it; whether in a text, at the end of a phone call, or over a cup of coffee it feels like a benediction. Like a gift. Like a quiet invitation to exhale.

Shalom.

We throw the word “peace” around like confetti. Peace and quiet. Peace of mind. World peace. But shalom? Shalom is bigger. It’s deeper. It’s not just about stillness or silence. It’s about wholeness. It’s about things being made right. About restoration. About the space where nothing is missing and nothing is broken. A kind of peace that lives not just in the absence of chaos, but in the presence of belonging.

For me, shalom shows up in surprising places. Not in yoga studios or silent retreats or even serene walks on the beach (though those are lovely, too). For me, shalom is often found in the kitchen. In the sizzle of chicken in the skillet. In the rhythm of chopping greens. In the quiet joy of assembling something good to share. This week, shalom looked like waffles, chicken, and fig preserves. It looked like sweet meeting savory. It tasted like comfort and creativity on the same plate.

Copycat Chicken & Waffle Sandwich

Thank you The Roasted Rooster in Sandwich Illinois for the inspiration.

What You Will Need:

What You Will Need To Do:

1. Heat chicken pieces as directed.
2. If using leftover waffles, lightly spread maple syrup on each waffle slice, place them on a baking sheet with the chicken for the last 5-6 minutes to warm through.
3. Spread fig preserves on one side of the waffle.
4. Dip cooked chicken pieces into sriracha aioli.
5. Layer chicken and greens between the waffles to build your sandwich.
6. Cut diagonally (because sandwiches always taste better that way).

Shalom, for me, looks like this: food prepared with care, people gathered without pretense, laughter softening the edges of a hard day. It looks like remembering that peace isn’t something we chase down. Sometimes it’s something we create right where we are, with what we already have.

Today I’m asking:
What does shalom look like to you?
Where does it show up in your life in small, surprising ways?

Maybe it’s in your kitchen. Maybe it’s in your conversations. Maybe it’s in the quiet way you end your day, with gratitude tucked between the messy and the beautiful.

Shalom. And pass the maple syrup,

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Reference
Niequist, S. (2024). Celebrate Every Day. Zondervan.