Inhale, Exhale, Peace

This picture was so sweetly reminiscent of both Passover and the Easter Vigil. There is a path through to the other side. And there is slow, still time for refection.

Both of these holidays speak not only of the eventual triumph, but also of the need to be engaged in the present, which is troubled and grievous.

We’re so willing to look away from life’s uncomfortable and ugly moments. But they don’t go away for all that.

Giving Peace a chance, means being present. It means wading in the water. It means sitting shivah. We can only hope that new days will dawn and a path will open. In the meantime, we must find our Peace where we are and mourn what is so difficult. Peace is present every day. We must be present to it.

Beauty and Peace

Beauty is not meant to be hoarded and tucked away protected from the world; it is meant to be shared.

Peace shatters if it’s sacralized and kept apart.

The more Beauty we bring into the world and share with one another, the more we learn and acknowledge what another finds beautiful, the better able we’ll be to create something lasting and possible between us.

I woke up thinking that everyone needs to build themselves friendship cells. I need to know women who are Muslim, Christian, Jews, and the Hopeful. I need to form such a group deliberately. We need to learn one another and love one another. The more of this that do so, the harder it will be to foment differences between us.

We are people who believe in Beauty. We are people who believe in Peace.

Dancing the Peace Line

There are lines. There are differences between us. But they don’t need to be hard lines. They don’t need to be walls.

We can flirt along the lines… stick a toe across and bring it back safely, learning to live a bit more boldly.

Sometimes lines make us feel safe… but we need to use that safety to dare. Rules and lines are good and helpful. But Life is also made for dancing and it is made for Peace.

So we just have to figure out how to work with what we have.

Line dancing. It was huge in the 80s. Let’s bring it back. Line Dancing for Peace!

Weathering Peace

It’s so hard not to rejoice when the temperatures climb. Who doesn’t want fabulous weather? But the weather is wrong for the season. We’re not meant to have 80+˚ weather in April.

The pollens this year are so high. We didn’t really have enough freezing weather.

The climate is changing and the planet… and more particularly, the creatures who live on this planet, humans included will find life more difficult.

And the political climate is eroding as well. Human decency is revealing itself to be made of mighty flimsy stuff.

Peace is dependent upon our doing the right things. What is important to us? how do we make that real in the world? How do we Peace and get others Peacing right along with us.

Upwelling Gratitude: Fuel for Peace

There is so much for which to be grateful. And sometimes it feels impossible to see that — because there is so much that is completely out of sync in our world.

And that is the invitation and the challenge. Where in the midst of this do we find those things worth celebrating. And how do we do that in such a way so as not to be ridiculous in the face of the things that need facing?

Always fascinating this life! But I’m pretty sure that gratitude leads to Peace. So let’s give thanks and let’s Peace!

The Quick Fox of April Peace

The quick red fox jumped over the lazy brown reeds. (I saw no dog!) It was gorgeous!

Nervous making, because she was alongside the road… but she was in a bog close to the lovely river. And there were ducks and others on the river outside the cafe where i stopped to eat. Nature is feeling confident enough to rub up against us! Hurrah!

April was at her most lovely yesterday. (everything but my allergies were in agreement!)

There are some days when even humans manage to be at Peace with the Earth. Spring offers us so many opportunities to stand together in awe. What if we took them? Look! A Fox!

May April’s Beauty Bring April Peace

We are having glorious weather. Here in the Northeast we grumble our way through the dregs of Winter longing for Spring. (Unless like me you’re a person with pollen allergies!)

April starts and still it is cold and dreary. And still we whine.

And then it changes. It will still be capricious, no doubt, but it will be beautiful.

We need that Beauty in our world right now. We must be that Beauty in the world right now, because right now I worry our country is on the verge of starting wars on many fronts. Our people could be in danger. Other people could be in danger. We must be Peace. We, like April, must bring joy and Beauty… and spread it across the land and the world.

Gratitude, Generosity, Peace

There was no better day for making the ask. I was reeling from the news in Syria. Both parts of it. Feeling out of control and off center. And yes, I can persist, and I will with my pacifism… but this is a huge and complicated issue and I have no idea what makes sense when nothing make sense.

But we go back to thinking globally and acting locally. There’s a new family coming. Hoping for a new start. So I can ask their new neighbors… and they’ll fill in. And they have

The responses have been extraordinary. Far more than they’ll need, but they’ll keep it for the migrants who are coming. And they will feel empowered and generous as well.

I give thanks for this community and the work we are so willing to do. It helps me trust in Peace.

Clouds: Their Omens, Their Peace

Clouds are so beautiful. My mother painted clouds often. As a family they were a road trip’s enjoyment.

But they are also often harbingers of things to come. Storms, for instance.

Right now the clouds are lying low… it poured yesterday. It will do so again.

The clouds of War seem to be gathering on the horizon. That’s frightening.

But clouds are things of great beauty. How do we reclaim the clouds for Peace? How do we claim the world for Peace.

Peace Is Fluid Not Fixed

I suppose that the strong man toeing the line, daring anyone to cross it is a kind of diplomacy.

I’m not sure it’s particularly effective, however, in doing anything other than escalating situations. I’m not quite sure what to say about this, since we are all fairly well agreed that I’m not a great strategist.

But doesn’t it seem that at this point when the pause has gone on too long, that you might want to say, hey, wanna go have a tea or a coffee or even a beer and talk about this?

I know I’m not a warrior and that there are warrior jobs… and no one is ever going to hire me to do them… unless I’m out being a warrior for Peace with my hello, it’s lovely to meet you… push those books over, sit down, let’s have tea. I also know that there are times you have to stand your ground and say firmly, this is not acceptable. But for me, this is more of a sit down for Peace rather than a glaring at one another Peace…

I do know that Peace is fluid… running like water, lubricating like oil…

Oh. and i know these figures are gorgeous. I’m not sure what Cindi was creating with them, I just know I find them captivating…

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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