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Dangers of Snow Globe Peace, llvl

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I had a wonderful day yesterday. Everyone else was complaining about the weather and I was happy, happy, happy. Big fat fluffy flakes, all day long. It never got icy, I only shoveled once… but it was enough for exercise. ahhhh. And I had a warm bowl of pasta in the middle of it. Yep. a great day.

But still the roiling in our world tore at me. Steve and I have a daughter in the Bay Area, we both have many friends and storms were raging. Hundreds of thousands of people are without power. There are flash floods. Our kids are ok… but not everyone is. And this huge storm will likely run away to quickly to make a huge dent in the drought although it will change the snowpack.

At the same time, in our world, there is so much ugliness being uncovered. Ugliness that many of us were content to ignore since it wasn’t always poking at us in our daily lives. Poverty. Racism. Misogyny. Violence. Torture. Guns. Sheer mean avarice and stupidity.

There wasn’t enough pretty snow to put a covering on that. We’re just going to have to go to work, shoveling ignorance, indifference and complicity out of our souls as we shovel the snow into banks alongside the sidewalks. People need us to wake up. People need us to do the work. Peace needs us as well.

Here in the season of Joy to the world and Peace on Earth… let us take them seriously… Let us stay faithful to our goals of Peace on Earth.

LLVL50Dec12

 

Storms on the Peace Road, llvl

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I don’t believe in Fate. I do believe in causation however. And right now in our world, we’re experiencing the side effects of our action and our inaction.

And what’s happening doesn’t speak well about us. We’ve agreed that certain things contribute to climate change, but haven’t demanded that those things be changed. We’ve agreed that racism is rampant, but haven’t worked to change our own hearts, and through that changed others’.

And so we see huge winter storms lashing the coasts and destroying islands in the middle of the Pacific and send an occasional check to the Red Cross. And we see riots in our streets because we continue to ignore the privileged violence that is enacted against our brothers and sisters of color.

These things won’t stop unless we have a change of heart. They won’t stop unless we decide to work to change other hearts. They won’t stop until we join hands with people all over our country all over our world and say, actually, it’s not going to be that way any more.

Peace on Earth, isn’t something sweet you write on Holiday Cards. It’s what we’re meant for. It’s what our world deserves. Justice. Peace. Joy. Are we ready? Are we committed? The world is waiting for our gentle but insistent hands.

LLVL50Dec11

Slow Morning Peace, llvl

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Morning breaks more slowly in the winter… as if it too tugs itself from the warm nest of blankets. But that gives the colors a chance to settle in…

We live in a beautiful world. And as much as I talk about it, I sometimes don’t pay as much attention as I should. This time of year, we’re meant to burrow in, and I do. I find it difficult to tear myself from my cozy cocoon. I’m up late reading and in late sleeping — Finding the rhythm of the season.

But this morning, thanks to an early car appointment, I’m going to be driving into the morning’s light. (and probably driving back into it since it looks like the car may need a days worth of fluffing.)

So, here I am, slower than usual, but happily embracing the moment. In the midst of the turmoil over race and torture and rape… let us envision the possibility of Peace on Earth and Joy to the World. And then let us come together and work for justice. It’s a beautiful morning for it.

LLVL50Dec10

 

Peace with What Is, llvl

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They’d promised me the big storm. Again. We’re getting icy rain. Again.

And that’s what it is. Again. It’s always what it is.

Expectations. They offer a fine bit of sword dancing. On the one hand, we have to work and make space for the unthinkable. (not those things we dread, but the things we hope for.) On the other, we can’t invest in them.

I’d wanted to get my work out shoveling piles of fluffy white stuff. Instead, I’m going to have to go to the gym and be very careful driving my round of appointed errands. (If the weather’s ok, I’m having play practice with Rachel for this year’s Holiday Program.) don’t want to miss that!

I could be wildly disappointed that I didn’t get what I wanted, or I could just live into today and keep building possibilities for Peace. Or even just get the work I have to do done. Pay the bills. Write that assignment. Clean out that closet. Do what’s in front of me. Not every day is a day for the big things. But if we clear the little ones out of the way, we make room for great things. And shoveling will come… It is Winter after all… And there’s lots that needs my attention. Why yes, of course Peace is one. Trying to live into the Joy to the World and Peace on Earth.

LLVL49Dec9

 

Building Peace Traditions, llvl

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I know, you know this about me. I love living in my little vida local! It always surprises me how much I like it, given how much time I’ve spent living outside such connections. Yesterday was a sweet coming together of many of the things I love best.

Church was crowded yesterday and there was a lot going on. And all of it was stuff that made me happy — even if there was a lot I’m not crazy about doing! We had a soup potluck and everyone was really happy for warm soup. And then 10 of us, many of whom were teenagers, went off to Ronald MacDonald House to volunteer. And the rest of us, for the first time in a very long time decorated the sanctuary for the holidays. The great thing about being UU in this time period is how many holidays you get to celebrate. The kids were engaged and so were lots of the adults. There wasn’t one bit of unhappiness, because the organizers had it well set up. So lots of busy elves and there was great cleaning up.

And so we began a tradition of things to look forward to. A day in the midst of the hustle and bustle where we come together, feast, get to know one another whether through doing things around our church home or out in the wider world. And it wasn’t just the people who went who contributed to RMH, they took along lots of casseroles from everyone.

Nothing outrageous. Nothing that groups don’t do all the time, but sweet simple good times in the company of friends making holidays bright. Sweet burgeoning Peace.

LLVL49Dec8