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Letting Go of Expectations; Doing the Peace Work

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Snow in June is not what you expect, even in Sweden.

But that’s the thing about expectations. They get in the way.

No it’s not usual to have snow in June. (and we didn’t and Sweden may have had it in May). But when it happens, it’s just what it is. Railing against it doesn’t really change much, does it?

Expectations get in the way of Peace and Peacemaking.

I’m good at having high expectations. That has its pluses. I find people often live into your high expectations. But sadly, I’m also good at letting them and my irritation when things go differently than expected get in the way of my Peacemaking. I have to remember… All I am saying is give Peace a chance. I’m saying that to me!

 

Not Enough Fanfare about Peace

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I think it’s time for the liturgist to figure out how to celebrate being an American. It’s a bit of a defiant step… most of my friends are used to seeing themselves as outsiders.

But now is not the time to cede our civic pride. I believe now is the time to stand up and say we are Peaceful Patriot Citizens. We serve our country. I’m so proud of all the many ways we do our work for Peace. We can proudly disagree with others and still claim our space.

Why this today? It’s National Day in Sweden and this was the pic Lorraine sent… Gives me a month to reflect and plan… How do Peaceful Americans celebrate the 4th of July?

Wish the weather were as sunny and beautiful here as in the photo! But, rain or shine, the work of Peace is always with us.

Following a Leader to Peace

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I’ve recently been part of the line up for dinner crowd… There I was where I’d never expected to be, in rehab, trying to get over a huge encounter with pneumonia.

But we all need to be finding our leaders for Peace… and following them… and being them.

I like to think that I am one; I work hard at it.

But it’s wonderful to know that when I am struggling to be even a capable follower in the lunch line, that someone is still leading. Peace is still being explored.

Six years ago the Jews, the Muslims, and the UUs met for a hummus cook-off. This year 42 women from 5 different traditions met to read the book of Ruth… (and yes, there was food!) I wasn’t present. I didn’t need to be, although I’m sorry to have missed it. Peace is growing.

It’s what we do; we practice leading and we practice following.

I’m so glad you’re part of my Peace Line… I’m glad when you follow. I’m glad when you lead. You need to lead now, ok? Because I’m barely able to follow. But someday, I’ll lead again. Until then. Peace.

 

Where does your Music find its Peace?

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Who do you play for? Do you play for an audience? Do you play for yourself?

Is your music an offering? Is it a spiritual practice? Do you offer it the discipline it requires to get better? It deserves it, you know.

Does it soothe you or wake you up? Does it celebrate life or do you keep it only as an accompaniment?

So much to consider. So much to decide.

Peace of the music be with you. May you transform the music; may it transform you.

Dawn Beauty; Dawn Peace

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You have to get up pretty early in the morning: in fact in this region, you would have had to get up at 5:47 this morning, to have a chance to see the sun guild the bridge — if it were sunny then.

I’m never excited about dawn, unless i’m up… then I’m transformed as the light blesses the day.

Whether we see the dawn, we would do well to get up blessing the day and its Beauty. It makes it so much easier to go about the business of Peace.

Peace Pilgrimage

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We need places to go. We need places to take ourselves off to that give us respite.

Too many of us are sitting around with rocks in our guts as our government freewheels around us.

We need to figure out how to draw back, draw in. Where to find ourselves a place that soothes and comforts us in the midst of the work to be done. Inspire means to breathe in… it’s the opposite of expire… Breathe in Life. Find new ways of being creative and dogged and persistent.

There’s a lot of work to be done. Peace is not easy. It’s not that it’s not worth our work, it’s just not easy. Take a break. Celebrate life. And then come back and care for it. Come back and get to (Peace) work.

 

Temporary Peace of a Boat to Nowhere

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As temperatures climb, it looks so inviting to be out in the middle of a very chilly body of water. The Sun is so hot. The water so cold.

This photo has escape written all over it.

It gets this hot, escape looks attractive.

But the world needs us. The Earth needs us. Our country needs us. So sailing away doesn’t quite respond to that need, unless, as I said as a temporary escape, a chance to clear our heads and hearts — As Eller-Isaacs says “to forgive ourselves and each other and to begin again in love.” And Peace. Always in Peace.

Let us breathe deeply of respite, and turn again to creating Peace.

 

Porches for Peace

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Front Porches. When did they drop off the face of the Earth? The sociologists tell us that we’ve replaced them with back yard decks. When they went, there went the neighborhood. Now we drive into our garages (whose doors are raised and lowered without our leaving the car) and never see our neighbors. People can live next door to people for years and never meet them.

Until the advent of the garage door clicker — and maybe central air, however, we all sat outside on warm evenings and visited. We did kitchen prep as we discussed the day. We ate our dessert and saw what the neighbors were eating.  You knew your neighbors then. And that was a wonderful thing. I think Porches did a lot to hold the neighborhood together.

The flowers were just the bonus… they gilded the lily… but they did it so well.

Let us recall the Peace of the Porch. Let us relive the Peace of the Front Stoop.

Koi, Spring, Peace

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My friends, who are nature people, keep me connected to what’s happening this season.

This is the day we plant the beans, plant the beans, plant the beans.

And in one person’s life, this is the day we bring the Koi up from winter hibernation. Actually it happened a bit ago, because they’re now happily swimming in their beautiful pond.

If the Koi are in the pond, can dinner on the patio be far behind? No, it cannot.

My friend Emily’s house is an oasis. She loves to dig in the dirt. She loves to feed her birds. And she loves to grill. Oh, and she has a creek for sitting in. Luckily I have some talents she can appreciate, lest you think it’s all one-sided!

The rhythm of the Seasons offer Peace. We have to build toward Peace any way we can.