As I was reading at the library this past week, I came across a little piece written by the Pulitzer Prize winning author Alice Walker. In that article Alice recalled an experience from her childhood that even today has a deep impact on her. “When I was a little girl,” she wrote.”I accidentally broke a fruit jar. Several brothers and a sister were nearby who could have done it. But my father turned to me and asked ‘Did you break the jar, Alice?’  Looking into his large, brown eyes, I knew he wanted me to tell the truth. I also knew he might punish me if I did. But the truth inside me wanted badly to be expressed. ‘I broke the jar,’ I said. The love in his eyes rewarded and embraced me. Suddenly I felt an inner peace that I still recall with gratitude to this day.”I think that Alice Walker had discovered something that day with her father. I think she discovered the secret to inner peace. In my years as a priest listening to people pour out their troubles, the one thing they all seem to crave more than anything else is personal peace, peace of mind and peace of heart.  For so many people personal peace seems elusive, yet Alice Walker seemed to know it instinctively as a little girl. Personal peace comes from telling and living the truth.  Fr. Mark