Peaceful Colleagues, llvl

Essentially, I work, not alone, but on my own. But there are people with whom I share mostly similar job and people who have responsibilities at my place of employment. I meet regularly with a woman’s clergy group. We have overlap and support one another. The systems we work in are quite different but the work is similar. So we talk and support and suggest. It’s grand to have colleagues with similar experience.

And then there are people who do at church. All sorts of things. Buildings, money, book club… lots of things. Our jobs aren’t dependent on each other, but they are interdependent. Without these colleagues, there is no church.

And then Peacemaking. We all work at Peace from the place we are. Sometimes the bit of Peace at which you pick away is very, very different from the Peace you are working… But the heart of the flower is Peace. And there you are. Peace Colleagues.

They’re everywhere, they’re everywhere. And that is just lovely. You are most likely my colleague. Makes me happy. Makes me grateful.

Worthy Opponent Peace, llvl

Sometimes we’re thoughtless about things and get in our own way. During those moments, we just have to bless ourselves and move on, Lord love our hearts. (southern for what the heck?)

But other times our growth is a huge challenge but happens because we challenge ourselves. We learn. We stretch. We get better. We do better. Practice and discipline, such good things.

Movements in our lives that have been shaky and jerky all of a sudden, after consistent practice, flow smoothly. We find not only the beauty of the movement but the strength — our strength. That challenge accepted is movement forward, or even inward toward our hearts.

Our groundedness and our strength, our knowledge of where we are in space allow us to know where others are. They help us understand not only what’s being said but what needs are behind those statements. They help us be present to the moment. They help us be balanced in our response. They help us be aware of the connections we have to those around us. These things can give us the ability to give some people the space they need, invite others in closer, and notice who’s not included — all valuable things for living and for Peacemaking. A Warrior for Peace. That’s who I want to be. No. Present tense (since as Yoda reminds us, no try just do.) That’s who I am.

Co-conspirator Peace, llvl

Hey… Happy May Day. It’s going to be a gorgeous day here in the River Valley. Tisket a tasket it up! Lilies of the Valley are the Flower of the Day.

Take a moment to think about who you share your work with. Your Work. The stuff that makes your heart sing. The stuff that changes at least your world.

These are the people who ‘get’ you. Who understand. Who help you make a difference.

Love them. Get together with them. Change the world. Stop Hunger. Create Peace. You know the little stuff of life. And oh, give thanks daily that you have such partners to play with!

Mentoring Peace, llvl

Deb Slade posted this picture the other day, right about the time I received word that a good man had died. The picture seemed perfect, somehow, for the piece I wrote about him. I never knew Doug in his prime — but he was always prime, and wonderful. He was, as I said, a good man, a man who accepted the challenges that life offered and had a good time while doing it.

I’ll miss him. His family will miss him. A whole host of people he befriended and mentored will miss him. This community will miss his gentle, fierce, informed passion for justice.

So, I thought, why not take this opportunity to use this picture and think about others who had been mentors in my life… and ask you to reflect on yours.

I have been lucky to have quite a few of those people in my life. They’ve made me a far better person with their wisdom, laughter, and teaching. Sometimes just in the way they lived their lives.

One of the most important ways I can say thank you to those who helped me to grow is to do the same thing, to extend my hand, my heart and my wisdom to those coming along after me. It’s hard work. But it’s the work we’re called to. This is Peace-making across the generations.

Write a note to your mentors and say thank you. Write a note to your mentees and say git goin’! We’re lucky to have one another… Remembering that is a first step toward Peace.

Loud Dandelion Spring Peace, llvl

One day there’s nothing and then the next time you look there’s been an explosion. (What has a stealthy beginning to a loud and insistent life? Dandelions!) Last week the violets held court on the lawns. Nothing else to see but grass. This week, dandelions in full bloom, cheerfully giving the violets a run for their beauty.

I like sturdy, cheerful things that steadfastly refused to be moved from their purpose. I’d like to be that. Although I swoon for violets, I’ve probably got more in common with the dandelion. And truth to tell… don’t flower fritters sound delish? Yumhoo.

But what’s great? for this space in time we get ’em both. Delicate little violets. Sturdy little lions. (and in the gardens dragons! such fierceness!) Mother Earth’s a canny one, isn’t she?

Today it’s raining… good day to pull up your head and take a walk. The allergies can’t bother you, and truthfully, the flowers are just as beautiful in the rain and the walk as healthy. Peace on the lawn with raging flowers. Go figure.

Spring Peace from Another Home, llvl

To have lived somewhere else long enough to know the seasons is to discover the peculiarities and particularities of that place. Spring in California is a slow unfolding, it starts early and proceeds in haphazard fashion, one lovely flower at a time.

Living in places where the weather is warmer often means richly scented trees. To be out walking at night (a city pleasure) and have Jasmine and Mock-Orange dofting… it’s heaven. And it holds my heart. It will never be my only home… but it will always hold a part of me and those memories smell as sweetly as the trees… Peace enters us in so many ways. And we can offer it in as many. Sweet Peace. Sweet home away from home. Sweet local life wherever you find it, wherever you make it.

Spring Sabbath Peace, llvl

Oh, another beautiful Spring Day — clear and cool and sunny. Having “weathered” Winter, it’s lovely to have Spring linger and not just toss us into Summer.

The longer it’s cool, the longer my beloved violets will hang out. And that makes me happy. Sometime today, whatever else i do, I’m finding time to cram a neighborhood walk in to admire the violets dancing in the lawns.

I’ve had a particularly busy week. It’s been fraught with emotional ups and downs and loaded with things to do. They’re finished, they were mostly successful! and me? I’m exhaustipated! So today, I’m claiming the rest the sabbath offers. despite the beauty, there’s a nap in my future, I’ll eat things that are good for me, and maybe, even, pick up my room so it doesn’t make me crazy. Maybe later, I’ll read a book — if I can find one that asks nothing of me. Because nothing is just what I have to offer!

We don’t have a lot of days when the weather is so delightfully comfortable; so take advantage. I plan to indulge myself in the Sabbath. I’ll be pushing the pause button — ahhhhhhhh. relaxed. I wish you the same Joy and a full measure of Sabbath Peace.

Grape Hyacinth Peace, llvl

Short one this morning. Gotta get ready for the arts festival. where DID I put my sun screen?

The purple fields were astounding. A birthday treasure. And a sweet coda to the planting of Deb’s trees. I found more of wedding hearts that my friend Lorraine had made for me, and I had copied onto bright pink paper, took them to the park, thinking we could write on them and bury them with the roots… but the tree was planted. A friend said, we can put them on a stick. So we all wrote love, and made a love flag. It was gorgeous.

But it made me aware how sad I still am… so the purple fields were balm. Nature’s got it for us, if we’d only let it give it to us…

So thanks, my dears, for all the love you’ve given me through this… I had a very hectic and exhausting birthday… and one filled with wonder and love. I spent the entire day with my SweetPea, which we never get to do… and now, I wish you Purple Peace and Breakfast Peace and a great day!

Birthday Peace, llvl

What a wild ride today will be!

I’ve packed some ashes and Deb’s baby spoon for the tree planting. I’ve tucked the brass music stand into the car for this evening’s performance. Hankies to cry with, and scales to warm up. (and oh, yes, the music!!! eek. still a couple rough spots… but the high notes seem to be right there… life, the challenges and the blessings.

but all in all, there is love, love, love and I’m the luckiest woman. Lucky in friends. Lucky in family. Lucky in work. Lucky in community. and oh, lucky in Love.

I’m going to pack all the lovely messages I’ve received into my heart and use them for fuel for the year to come. What if this could become the Valley with No Hungry Children? What if? That’s what I want for my birthday! Wanna Play? Together… Peace.

Fierce Pansy Peace, llvl

If you look at a pansy you can see why they are called dragons in other cultures. And yet, our interpretation of them as gentle and happy is fairly easy to see as well. Ah, metaphors, they work in so many ways!

As I was writing (once I got past the pansy glow in this shot — Deb Slade caught something amazing, didn’t she?), I realized how much I liked the combined possibility of these two seemingly opposite characteristics, realized that I’d liked it for a long time when I remembered that I’d exhorted wedding couples to “love one another with a fierce and passionate tenderness.” hmmm, wonder why i stopped — does it perhaps get too carnal for comfort?

There they are, every spring, fierce and passionately tender pansies, bringing the world Peace with everything that’s in them. They look so fragile, but like yesterday’s daff, they’re pretty hardy… they persevere through the cold to fill us with delight and color. What a notion, sticking to the one thing you do and doing it well.

So now whenever i see a bunch of pansies, when I think “sweet” or “whimsical,” I’ll also think “fierce” and that will make me giggle with delight. An elite troop of Peace-warriors, right there in our gardens, sort of the terra cotta troops of the plant world. Yay! You go, little warrior pansies! Bring on the Peace.

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