Winter’s Wiles, Winter’s Peace

Every season, I think, well, this one’s the favorite. And I know, I always have trouble letting go of the outdoor swimming — but that’s not because the turning of the leaves doesn’t seduce my heart to gladness.

And you’d think, looking at these grey chilly days that I’d be whiny about the mix… but hey! Baby, it’s cold outside! and it’s Winter. And it’s beautiful.

If we’re complaining, we can’t see Winter’s Beauty. And then we miss Winter’s Peace. Why would we choose this? Why would we not admire? Why would we not Peace? Because Winter? Will be here either way. Let’s work with the Peace we have.

Winter Food; Winter Peace

This time of year, it’s so easy for our taste buds to crave carbohydrates. But no matter the season, we still need our veggies. There are not very many of us who live those heavy labor outdoor jobs that require lots of carbohydrates to get through the day. Then with 29 holidays between Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are ‘way too many reasons for cookies!

Because we’ve had no more than one hard frost, there is still kale growing in my landlord’s garden — and they are so generous with their renter!

There are all sorts of winter vegetables for us to eat… And we should. This salad’s a pretty delightful offer: warm parsnips and pears on arugula. Oh, Yum! And you? What are you eating that’s good for you and incredibly yummy? What are you sharing with a friend and family.

Peace is made by happy, healthy people.

Short Winter Days, Long Winter Nights, Peace

Wherever you live, however much Sunlight falls or doesn’t on your days, it’s always the right day to make it a day of Peace.

Night is so beautiful. Day is so beautiful. Winter is so beautiful. So are Spring, Summer and Fall. Peace adds its own incredible Beauty.

The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, and the Earth bring the days and nights and seasons. We bring the Peace. They’re doing their job. Are we? Now more than ever, we must Peace.

Get Out in the Peace of a Winter’s Night

Cold weather, clear skies and stars! Nothing more extraordinary.

And yet it’s become extraordinary. No where near enough walking around outside in the dark. It’s a fun family exercise; it’s a fun neighborhood exercise.

And the dark and the cold are beautiful. They’re an integral part of life.

What if we all just decided not to hate winter this year. What if we decided to embrace it and it’s unbelievable beauty?

Why throw away half of life? Especially when it’s beautiful!

Peace is in the long Winter’s night. Promise.

Until We Know, Peace

There are a lot of fears right now. Few of them feel unjustified, but all of them are unknown…

I will stand firm on my beliefs and proudly beside those who are targeted, but I’m not ready to aimlessly gather to mull around until I know what’s really in the works.

What I will do, every day, is work for Peace. I will focus on neighborliness; on being a good friend. I will step up.

Yesterday, the Mosque 60 miles down the road, received one of “those” letters. It was a hate-filled, ignorant threat. If they organize a rally, I will go. In the meantime, I will stand with my neighbors here — and sit and have coffee, giggle over the silly things in life, pray about the horrors, and educate myself. That’s what I can do. That’s what Peace asks of us. That’s what Love asks of us. I continue to think that we need to learn to be the people who walk each other home.

Peace. Love. Understanding. Let us be those people.

Peace Is For Everyone

It’s so hotly contested, but prayer may never be used to exclude people, it may only include people.

When you are in a group that prays in a certain way… a community of faith then prayer is a signature of that group.

But when the group is a public group, particularly a state run group such as a school, official prayer doesn’t belong.That’s the law of this country and I believe, as a minister, a good one. People pray differently or not at all. This is not a Christian nation. This is not who we were founded to be. If you’re proud to be American, be proud of what the country was founded to be.

But there are other reasons that I think prayer isn’t sportspersonlike. Nothing to stop someone from a quick prayer before sinking a penalty shot, although, as a theologian I would argue you would have done better to practice and the Divine shouldn’t be responsible for compensating for your lackadaisical approach to discipline.

But if the bonding is happening only with a few, even with most, and you’re leaving people out of the circle, then they are outside the circle not just at the beginning but also for the game. If they’re pretending, to fit in, then you’re still excluding them and reinforcing the fact that they are not really part of the group. This isn’t going to lead to good results for individuals or for the team.

This is all in reference to an article that talks about a school system that has been notified it must quit “official” prayer and come into accordance with the law. It says it’s a successful team. Does that mean it wouldn’t be successful if they don’t pray? Is there a reason they’ve got a coach? Because it is her/his job to teach a team the skills and reinforce the discipline to play the game well together.

A winning team will have a variety of players to enhance the program. A team that is inclusive, rather than exclusive, can have extraordinary results if you make space for new approaches.

People bring their religious selves with them wherever they are. What’s important is that they live what they believe rather than just talk about it.

I know, I’m an old Peacemaker. I believe that it’s the role of prayer to bring people together… and demanding that the Divine lead your team to victory over another… doesn’t fit that bill.

Prayer is not the only way to help people bond. Be your best self, find other ways to bond with people who are different from you.

Give Peace a chance. And follow the rules of the country.

Feed the Hungry; Peace Requires It

If you’re serious about Peace (and if you’re following me, you’re serious about Peace); then we have to build a world people can live in. People in want have a very difficult time focusing on Peace.

If you can’t add because you’re hungry… you can’t make Peace either.

That may be it for today. Simple; straightforward: If you want to give Peace a chance, feed the hungry.

Shoring up the Peace Path

We can’t neglect the infrastructure. Although we have. And we’re paying the price.

Our social infrastructure doesn’t seem any better than our roads or bridges. We need to smooth out interactions, we need to forge connections.

There’s lots of repair to be done. We need to invest in the structure a bit so that life can be a bit smoother. We need Peaceful interactions between folk and we don’t have them. We need safe bridges — on the road and between groups.

I’m going to have to think more about this… but something’s bubbling.

In the meantime… make some Peace! smooth out the road a bit. Southern Poverty Law center is having a press conference to discuss the more than 800 hate events it has documented since the election. We need good bridges.

We need to be the bridges to Peace…

Tasting Peace Together

I think Peace tastes most often like a shared meal.

Even what we call comfort food is called that because we remember those with whom we’ve shared it.

I’ve heard a lot of stories about Thanksgiving’s not being the holiday it should have been because of nasty political divides. We cannot let politics push us apart without working to mend the social fabric. (and really families should be ashamed that they will let love falter in a need to be right.)

In this time of uncertainty, i think it’s time for community meals. Let’s break bread together. Let’s get to know one another. Let’s eat each other’s food and dandle one another’s babies on our knees.

Let’s Peace. With Food. Because every army marches on its stomach. Even Peace armies.

Peace in Black and White

Sometimes, although not always, it helps to move some of the extraneous items and look at what is. To look at it in its most simple format: black and white.

The color is important, because Life is full of color. And the color shades what is true. So this isn’t a long term solution. But I think it may be part of the solution. Peace in black and white.

Sometimes the simple elements give us good cues about where we are and the plans that we might make. At that point we in add the color back in and see what we learn in addition to what we already know. Peace in living color.

Peace is very simple and it’s very complex. So are we. So let’s look at Peace in every color and hue and gradation, because we have to give Peace a chance.

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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