When someone leaves your home, do you say, “Go in peace”? They would probably give us a funny look if we did. Yet, this parting phrase reveals an interesting intention. Jethro wasn’t just saying, “Peace out, Moses.” He was telling his son-in-law that all would be well between them during their absence.

Have you ever ended a phone call with the distinct feeling that the conversation hadn’t gone well? You may not even be sure why it didn’t feel right. No harsh words were exchanged, nothing was overtly bad. But you would not have felt sure enough to say, “Go in peace.”

These places of tension cannot be ignored. There is an absence of peace. The pebble in the shoe can raise a blister if we don’t attend to it. That moment before saying goodbye can gift us with a time to pause, reflect, own any faults, and seek peace.