Weathering Peace, llvl

Some days, you just get lucky. Yesterday was one of those days. Right there in the middle of all the chilly, chilly weather came a warm and lovely day.

The whole world dashed outside and enjoyed the day. Leaves were blown. Christmas lights were hung. (Work, the paying kind, must have been avoided because work around the house was being accomplished.)

People went out walking or tooling around in their cars with the windows down.

Some people wanted to know what it meant “that we had such weather?” Others were sure “we would pay for it.”

I think it was a bonus. A little throw away that if we were smart, we picked right up and enjoyed to the fullest. Tomorrow, the temperature starts its journey south on the thermometer and snow — they say — is expected. (You remember that I live in Snow Hole, PA, right, so don’t look for a lot here!)

But I hope you enjoyed the day. And I hope you’ll enjoy the snow when it arrives. This is what we have. Might as well make Peace with it! (Of course, it does feel easier when the weather is so temperate, doesn’t it?)

Expanding Peace, llvl

It would seem to me that the expansion of Peace is both our work and an incredible gift. Peace becomes more precious as it is spread. It’s not meant for hoarding, not meant for a chosen few. It’s supposed to be slathered on the unevenness of life with a lavish hand.

Is the world more parsimonious, more acrimonious right now? Are we more fear based than other times? It certainly feels that way.

It’s not that we disagree with one another but that we hate each other for daring, daring, daring to think differently. And some people we hate simply for existing.

I’m not advocating singing “let’s all look on the bright side of life” (oh, thank you, Monty Python) and ignoring the plight of too much of humanity. Rather, I’m suggesting that we open our hearts and minds (and, yes, our purse strings, too!) to a world in need of balance.

I’m asking us to think about what we can do, each and every one of us, to respond to life’s bounty with generosity. Things are hard. That is why we must be generous and we must call one one another to lighten and loosen up a bit. “Try to see it my way.” Just for a bit.

Yes, life is changing. Digging in our heels and pretending that it isn’t has never been a very good response to change. And it’s getting ugly. And there’s no reason for that. We can go to the gym all we want, but unless we’re practicing generosity, our hearts will still be stunted and stuttering.

Let all our looking to see what is wrong be a prelude to our deciding what we must do. Peace. Let’s spread it around.

No Hate in Peace Sabbath, llvl

I’m on FB, and I cherish the connections I have there. My friends group is comprised of friends (from childhood right through whatever-we’re-calling-this-hood), my wonderful wedding couples, ministry colleagues and some business ones, and some dear, dear acquaintances.

I’ve always been proud that my friends range across all sorts of spectra — political, gender, religious, race, background, and age. I find people fascinating and an endless source of beauty, laughter and heart. I like watching the community grow and cross pollinate.

But recently, I’ve been taken aback by the vitriol. It seems people aren’t happy. In too many cases, it seems that they’ve decided that whatever’s wrong in their lives is a result of Someone Else.

Too often their responses to their disillusionment is mindless Memes. Mean Memes. I hate you Memes. It makes me sad. I don’t think the response is cute cat videos, but what if we spent some time talking about how we’re engaged in making life better — not just for ourselves, but for others… anyone interested in a kind, constructive December? then if we’re successful for a month we maybe will have started something for the new year.

Today’s a Slow Sweet Sabbath for me. Starting out with breakfast with a friend and then services and a course and dinner with a friend. Maybe a little story writing in between… ah… Enjoying! I hope you do as well. May I (you) (we) be kind. May I (you) (we) be well. May I (you) (we) be filled with kindness and Peace.

Keeping Me in Peace, llvl

Having purpose in your life is both exciting and seductive. Each and every one of us has something wonderful to offer. When we hone our skills and put them to work where they’ll be of service (or at least the best we can imagine), we’re making a difference and doing it in a way that helps us to flourish. it’s an all-round good deal.

But the problem with purpose is that it tends to be all consuming. It’s easy to believe that you have the only piece necessary to complete the Peace Puzzle. And so all your efforts get placed on the purpose, and few get concentrated on you and what you need to keep these efforts going.

You gotta find the balance. ok, ok. I have to find the balance. So, I’m making small efforts. Not going to talk about them, let’s give them a month to get rooted. And really, other people’s health and exercise regimens aren’t all that interesting… But it’s all about being present both to Peace’s needs and your own.

So… I’m trying. Because if I’m not making Peace with who I am and trying to make me more Peaceful… I won’t have it for the long haul. And Peace is definitely a long-haul business. Peace and health to you — so there can be Peace and health to the world.

Peace for the Horror, llvl

Usually when I read of a tragedy as it rolls across national news, I have no tie to it. You look at it and you sorrow. Empathy is one step removed. And I would say that is as it should be. Over identification with a sad thing isn’t healthy.

But this sad thing touched acquaintances of mine. The situation happened in a community that is enough like pieces of my vida local that it was possible to see a bit more clearly, if still not experience, the shock and devastation such violence would bring to a community.

I imagine: A man (in this case) did a horrible thing. Just a bit ago he was one of us. Just a bit ago, I hugged him after he said what he felt. And then this man whom I had hugged did something so indescribably monstrous. And what he has done can not be mitigated.

It roils the soul.

So I look at this little church and this community and sorrow for them. I send them all the Love, all the Prayers I can muster. What was done was the work of an insane man. If we had better mental health services could this tragedy have been averted? I don’t know. And aren’t such thoughts ways to look away from the pain? There’s no way national laws can stop a solitary act of madness. The reality of that helplessness is awful.

What we do know is that their holding on to one another; their acknowledging that what is true is true, their sorrowing for the mother of this child and for themselves; and I would add for the man who did this heinous, heinous act so vile that he will forever be outside the embrace of society, this is the only way to any sort of healing. I wish them Peace. I know it will be a long time before they can feel it enfolding them. And so I must bear witness to the excruciating pain and stand firm in my willingness to see them. And I must do so without taking on their pain which is not mine, except oh, so abstractly, and at the same time live with a fact I often push away… there is such brokenness among us.

I wish us all Peace.

Transitioning to Peace, llvl

There is no vida more local than our bodies. The majority of us grow up complaining about these temples, we’re too fat/thin, our mouth is too big/small, our hair is too straight/curly. We’ve all got a beef.

But there are those whose beef is bigger. Their self is completely out of alignment with their body. And that’s torturous. Society is only slowly beginning to be aware of this struggle. In small pockets, people are beginning to listen to their children and come to terms with their truths. Watch Katie Couric interview Jazz, a 14-year-old transgender youth.

But others are frightened by this and too many transgender folk pay a horrendous price for being who they are. Our fear and transphobia too often causes them to hate themselves. I couldn’t find the exact figures for the statistics on suicides and attempted suicides, but, here are some fairly stark facts (from Equality PA)

74% of transgender people report experiencing harassment or mistreatment at work;
74% of children in grades K-12 who expressed a transgender identity or gender non-conformity experienced harassment at school and 23% of those students experienced physical assault; and
49% (nearly half) of transgender people were verbally harassed or otherwise disrespected when seeking public accommodation such as eating in restaurant or getting on bus.

I’m so lucky to have Bill Stayton, world renowned sexologist as a member of my congregation. He’s leading/teaching/supporting us, at church and in our valley, as we come to terms with a life that is far larger than we’ve understood.

Everyone deserves to live in Peace. Transfolk have a hard journey to make. We may not understand, but we can be part of creating a world where there’s enough Peace for them to work through to who they are. We can be present to them as they become fully who they’re meant to be. Peace. Let’s make it. And let’s bear witness as people make it for themselves.

Defiant Peace, llvl

I think too often we think of Peace as sort of a milquetoast cousin. (Caspar Milquetoast, cartoon character drawn by HT Webster (1885-1952), American Cartoonist. a very timid, unassertive, spineless person, especially one who is easily dominated or intimidated. Do’t you love that word?) But any way Peace. It gets thought of as sort of soppy, and saccharine. Or such an esteemed ideal there’s just not arriving at its boundless possibilities.

But it’s not. It’s strong and persistent. It trickles the idea of itself into even the most recalcitrant soul. Peace.

Yesterday, just a day after this picture was taken, was cold and blustery. This morning, despite the wind’s bravado, there are still leaves proudly dancing. They’ve made their own Peace with this season and they’re leaving in their own time. In the meantime, there’s Beauty and Abundance and Color. And no small amount of Joy.

There’s a lot we could learn from that, don’t you think? Peace… it’s never out of season — and it’s always out of season, and that’s it’s beauty.

Waiting in Peace, llvl

I have a lot to thank my parents, Sam and Betty, for. Some of it is very simple. They taught me to show up. (They tried to teach me to write notes and I confess, I’m far better at email that making sure I get my notes written.)

And because of their slow diminishment in old age, any terrors I might have had about the hospital were also overcome. (Someone once said, oh, horrible, you had to go to the hospital in the middle of the night by yourself. Oh, really at that point, piece of cake.) I had some rather wonderful late night giggles with both parents. And was glad to have a relief lambie at home to make mom comfortable. And thank goodness the nurses were really clear with Mommie-girl I should never bring her back.

But showing up. To say, “Look you have a baby how exciting!” “Oh, you’re feeling poorly, I brought some soup.” or “I’ll just watch while you sleep.” Or the really hard one: “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” And when you can’t get there physically, send a card. or a cheery email — because everything’s on line.

Those visits are made easier by the other visits, short and long, that we do over a beer or a cup of tea.

People matter so much to us, they make such a difference in our lives. It’s good to let them know. There’s a world of Peace in that. We might think of it as doing good, but we might just think of it as giving thanks… ‘Tis the season after all!

Enjoying Peace, llvl

I love living in a small town. You hear that from me again and again. La vida local. My vida local. Your vida local.

It’s not as if there aren’t plenty of problems to be addressed. There are societal and cultural problems and there are just as many personal issues — estrangements, accidents, illnesses — as any other place. All of those things need our attention.

But it’s easier, I find, to give them my attention when it feels as if I belong here and that I can perhaps make a difference.

But when I belong here, I know what there is to do. I’m hoping your little town is like this, because there’s lots to do here. This week there were three things I didn’t get to because there were other things I did get to!

And that makes life a pleasure. Everyone should dabble in pleasure now and again. It keeps you going for the long haul. It keeps you investing in making your life and your community sweeter. Peace!

“Peace on Earth” Sabbath, llvl

What if we just blow right past that old Happy Holidays debate, not that I don’t hope that all of your holidays are happy, whatever you celebrate? What if we just decide to wish one another Peace on Earth! Joy to the World!

What if we then decided to make it so.

There you go. December. Peace on Earth month. Whatever else you’re celebrating, let’s also spend a little time focusing on this.

Here’s to a lovely, lazy day. Or a day filled with lots of enjoyment. Or even one catching up on all those things… Enjoy yourself!

Peace on Earth! Joy to the World. You’ll hear that from me a lot. Better get used to it! What more could we ask? ‘Tis almost the season.

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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