It was a six-week adventure of prayer, meditation, healing-touch therapies, temple blessings, and one of the most profound days of silence she has experienced in years. But there was one particular act of devotion that reduced our host to tears, and which ranks high on the list of her "sweetest Bali moments."

Throughout her entire 42-day Balinese trip, the promises of Jeremiah 29:11 were being fulfilled and the purpose of this soul journey continually being confirmed. The only thing is—it took awhile for our host to notice she was already on the mountain she so ardently pursued.

Returning feeling nurtured and nourished from an intense spiritual trip to Bali, Indonesia, the contents of her suitcase are not the only thing our host finds herself unpacking. She reflects on why—although not at all what she expected—this journey to the Island of Devotion was actually everything she needed.

Before she takes off on her 40-day retreat adventure, our host leaves us with tools at our fingertips to build a pyramid and long-lasting wonder and devotion of our own.

This episode’s guest, Karen St. Clair, took her experience from the boardroom of a multimillion-dollar financial institute to the common room of a prison in Salem, Oregon, where she introduces inmates to a balance sheet of a different kind.

Our host recommends a substitute frame of reference for setting sacred intention around those more daunting dreams and desires we have planned for the pristine new year ahead.

Preparing to embark on a spiritual adventure that will impact her personal practice and her prayer and meditation ministry, our host invites us to be part of a divine plan that will an undoubtedly leave its indelible mark on listeners—and astonish us all!

Thoughts and prayers for the people of Newtown, Connecticut, with Rev. Paulette Pipe, host of Touching the Stillness. To connect with Rev. Paulette Pipe for prayer support, visit Touching the Stillness online at www.touchingthestillness.org.

Prayer works and stillness makes a difference. Don’t just take our host’s word for it! As she brings this year of Touching the Stillness to a close, we hear from fellow listeners around the world about how the practices, prayers, and meditations on this program have positively impacted their lives.

In this season of often mindless material gift-giving, it’s not knitted tea cozies, tartan socks, or bland ties we share in our brightly colored gift-wrapped packages. The glistening presents we come bearing, following our time of stillness, are spiritual gifts from within.