Winter Fields of Peace

On the one hand in this picture, this is just another picture of a winter field… stark, but beautiful.

But as I look at it now, as we enter into Winter, I think of the conversations that need to be held in the dark in the months to come.

What does Peace look like — what does it need to look like in the time to come? What has grown well in these fields before? What are people hungry for? What will nurture the people? What will keep us going for the struggle ahead? What will give us delight.

As you know, I’m not a very garden-y person… but we are going to need to sow peace. and we might well need to sow food for eating… what do the fields need to be able to support this?

What will nurture our hearts so that Peace can grow there? That’s really at the base of this analogy isn’t it? And let us remember Peace is a vast, imposing and demanding thing, not something sweet and light… People, get ready…

Love Is Needed Here; Peace is Needed Too

Yesterday, this heart that watered our souls was a beautiful symbol. We must be ready I thought… what better symbol than a fountain of love?

Later that day, after I finished my message for the night, i realized I was not ready for the reality that other people are already inhabiting — have been inhabiting for years.

And I don’t get time to get ready. I have people who need me to be responsive; to see them and to see what is happening to them and to stand with them.

This heart becomes a rallying cry.

My heart must lubricate theirs. So must yours. And we must lubricate each other’s because there is a lot of hate and we’re the antidote.

We must choose Peace. Look for the fountains of love to support you and renew your spirit within you…

Comfort Food Can Slow the Peace Journey

So many people I know have written stories about stress eating in times of well, stress.

There is so much to be said for comfort food. First, mmm. Second, comfort!

But there’s a lot to be said about it that reminds us that it isn’t our best friend.

Comfort food is rarely celery. Who do you know who says or writes to you, OMG, I was so depressed I ate an entire BUNCH of celery or a whole HEAD of lettuce. Nope it’s usually something carb or sugar related.

I like sugar and carbs as well as the next person… but they’re not really all that good for us in unmeasured quantities.

I’m not saying don’t do it… because times of stress are stressful. I am saying that, for me, sliding into comfort food is often a long slide toward a lot of comfort food. Like any other drug it dulls you. Thank it for its comfort… and plan a healthy meal.

Peace needs us alert and on the journey… Let’s Peace. The world needs us.

Peace on the Road Ahead

Well, here we go. There is quite a road ahead. There always was; now we know a bit more about it — even though there is much we don’t know, can’t know until things play out.

But what we know is that we are still expected to be decent and kind. We are still expected to shelter those who are in need of refuge. How we do that will be settled on bye and bye… and in the meantime, here we are.

Peace is still our destination. It may be farther than we thought, but hey it always takes longer than we think. Pack good food; take frequent breaks to see the scenery; and check out the beautiful scenery on the way. Aid those you encounter; accept their helping hand.

Laugh. Laugh a whole lot.

We’re in it for the long haul. Woke up this morning with my mind set on Peace. I’m not about to turn back now. If we leave now, we can stop for breakfast on the way.

Honoring the Dead; Demanding Peace

The dead are always with us. Those of us who knew and loved them long for them and mourn their passing. As long as we remember them they are somehow still with us… those real people, who laughed and snarked and tried and failed and loved us back. Life continues.

But there are those dead whom we must remember whom we never knew. There are those who died of poverty and neglect. To them, we can only say, we will try to do better.

There are those who died in wars. Some died valiantly, defending a cause they believed in. Some died valiantly because we asked it of them. All have served valiantly and we are not grateful enough — even when we are uncertain about war and its purpose.

Too many have died in wars. Too many veterans have had to leave their families for uncertain causes. Too many are gravely wounded in too many ways. Too few are well taken care of when they return.

And too many of us ignore the wars of the world and the victims who are not military.

Veterans day is over for the year… Remembrance must continue… and with that a heartfelt movement to bring Peace about in the world. It’s on us. We owe the dead that. We owe the living the same. Peace. The work of the world.

The Peace of Helping Each Other Out

I find I still have high expectations of folk. I expect us all to be courteous and kind. No exceptions.

If your candidate won or didn’t, you are and your neighbor is an American.

We may have very different ideas. We can still expect respect and have it expected of us.

Those whose dreams were not realized will need some time to figure out how we fit ourselves in, what we see our work to be. Those whose hopes came true had best find out how they will be a part of the government they elected.

I am not a strategist. I don’t know what to do next, but I know this: Peace is still the unwavering goal. Kindness and respect still pave the road.

Peace Is More Than a Sweet Word

This morning, and every morning moving forward, I’m going to have a whole new vision of Peace on my heart.

I say Peace every day at the end of what I write. Now the world gets to ask if I mean it.

My young parents are worried for their children. My young women (and my old) are clear we’ve been said no to. My queer friends are worried for their love. My friends of color are just scared. My Muslim friends are worried for their safety… and some of my Jewish friends as well.

I don’t know exactly what I mean when I say I will harbor you. I do know I’m going to find out. I do know that Peace means the world. Peace.

Voting Peace

Right after I write this, I’m taking out the trash (trashday never stops!) and walking down the street to the polls. I get to walk to vote. My friend went to another town 4 hours away so she could watch her baby, dressed in white carrying her baby, vote before catching the train home so she could vote.

I’m dressing in white because I’m a woman and I get to vote. And I honor that right.

My feed is filled with voting. Neighbors, with differing views, being Americans. Yay!

And when the fog is lifted, we will still be neighbors. Let us commit to this: we will still be friends. Because voting is as American as apple pie. Hatred is not. Let us Peace as best we can.

Vegetable Peace

We spend so much time during the summer eating the bounty that pours out of the fields. And it is delightful. I lost count of how many odes to a ripe tomato I wrote or recited!

And then the season changes.

Now the tomatoes we have are sauce, dried, or salsa. But some of the summer vegetables are still around. And the fall vegetables have started their long season of giving. Because they’ll be the winter vegetables… and until the cycle starts again, they’ll be the spring vegetables as we keep hauling them out of the root cellars of our lives or the bins of our grocery stores.

Some vegetables make the transition without being preserved. They just change their toppings for something cozier.

Many of us would do well to notice and even emulate the versatility of the zucchini.

Whatever the season, we have to make Peace with where we are. And then we have to make Peace where we are!

The Beauty and Peace of an Autumn Morning

It’s one of those days. Today is the reason we all love Fall — even those of you who hate Fall. We’ve had enough sleep and it’s a clear, beautiful, crisp morning. What’s not to enjoy? and Wow, you look great in that sweater!

The sun is playing a starring role this morning, reflecting off every shiny surface. That’s not always going to be the case for the next few months, so enjoy it!

Breathe in the Peace. Breathe it out. Store up the memories. Make space for more. Peace looks different every day — that’s asounding!

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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