The Priestess Is In

So Many Sides to Peace

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It is, it seems perfectly possible to be content to stand on a street corner, holding space for people to pray, all the while dreaming of warm, ocean kissed beaches.

We can’t only focus on the work to be done. We must also celebrate the fun to be had. All work and no play after all, make Jack and Jill fairly dull. Can’t have that!

Dull People don’t make exciting Peace.

What could be more exciting than Peace? Art, Music, Science, Technology, Wisdom swirl about! There’s Beauty. There’s Peace. Let’s stand when it’s necessary. Lounge when we can. Peace always.

Ahh… Full Snow Moon Peace

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“I was up all night,” my friend said. “The Moon (on the breast of the new-fallen snow) was so beautiful. How could you sleep?

Cold, cold night. Cold, bright, beautiful Moon and a couple of dazzling planets. And stars galore.

It’s enough to make you stop and catch your breath in wonder.

And anything that makes us stop and catch our breath in wonder, is a thing that connects us all. And that’s where Peace can begin to fill up the spaces between us. Another beautiful moon tonight, if the clouds let us see it. But beauty all around!

Here’s to you and snow and wonder and full Moons and Peace.

Patience in Peace

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What I love about this photo is not just the pelican’s patience, it’s her readiness as well.

Waiting is an active rather than a passive state.

In this bird’s case, she’s fully prepared. She’s trained a life-time to fish. She’s in shape, she’s prepared and probably neither happy nor unhappy in the waiting.

Some of us may be prepared for action. Others of us might do well to spend the time getting in shape, mentally, physically, spiritually, for the work that lies ahead of us. The way to Peace is always hard… and sometimes you need to sit back and exhale and wait until it’s time… But it’s not a great thing when the time comes and you’ve nodded off. Whether you’re fishing or working for Peace, you want to be ready.

Patience. Peace. They are well-acquainted.

Where’s Reassurance? Where’s Peace?

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For many years, in my life as a religious leader, I have not worn symbols of my office. Although I have other personal reasons, much of the work I have done has been interfaith and a collar would have interfered with that. And there was no real urgency for it.

It has never interfered with my doing my job. Here in my river valley, it’s easy enough to be known. But in today’s climate, there will be times I am called to show up that I believe a collar will be useful — as it speaks to power and as it reassures people in a crowd. It’s another way of saying I am here. I’m sorry it’s necessary.

I know a lot of people who are happy for their collars. I have no quarrel with them at all. It simply isn’t my style.

Having said that, if it moves the movement, there’s value… That said… sigh. And… you use power as you have it.

Stained glass? I love it! It’s so beautiful. I grew up with wonderful stained glass and when traveling still check to see the glass. But as my thealogy has moved, I look more to simple meeting houses that are warmed with love and passion for justice… But as my community begins to build, who knows what they will need. This is, after all, their house of worship. And I have nothing but welcome for Beauty.

In today’s world we look for places to find and ways to give Peace. We’re all going to have to stretch a bit. We’re all going to have to balance the needs, personal against the communal. And this piece of stained glass is beautiful.

Bending and Swaying for Peace

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These are challenging times. It’s hard to know what our best actions are.

It’s hard to know when we form a line in the struggle and say you may not cross. Or when you move and adjust but still stand exactly where you are.

It’s hard to believe i’m writing such things. But this is our life now.

Lock arms and hold your ground. Bend and sway. For Peace. Finding the Balance.

Coming Together in Peace

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I think Peace is not a solitary endeavor. We make Peace with our friends and then as friends we make Peace. I just finished a book that talked about a leader who had the good of society in his mind but didn’t have the good of the communities in his heart. It tainted his doing good.

We the People make the Peace. We may not concentrate on it enough, but it’s true nonetheless.

We can do this differently if we choose. Do we choose Peace? Do we choose connection?

I’ve said several times but none with more urgency than now, I never thought that the most important thing I had to offer in my ministerial work was community. And they never teach you that (oooh same problem as the leader in this fantasy novel!). You all think you’re going to be a prophet for your (oh-so-gifted) oratory. Nah, it’s the smiles and waves and hugs that set the scene. It’s the actions. And if you’re lucky, you’ll preach well come Sunday morning…

So, get up, gather your group (or meet up for them) and plot for Peace.

Hungry Squirrels for Peace

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I don’t know why this feels like a big deal, but yesterday I looked at this pic and thought, why is it that we’ll feed all manner of animals, but will spend hours defeating squirrels.

It began to feel like a metaphor. Who is all right to feed? Are there only some who are acceptable? What about refugees? Are there only some who are welcome? What about…

It’s not hard to see where this is headed.

Again we find ourselves balancing on the knife edge of judgment and judgmentalism. Judgmentalism is so damned easy. Oh, and wrong, it’s wrong.

I don’t know, I have no land and no bird feeders ergo no squirrel feeders. But we where do we draw lines about Peace in all this?

Don’t Rush Reflective Peace

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Winter, as a season, has many purposes, but rest and reflection are among them.

I’m never done with sleeping in, but it seems that we can all do with as much reflection as we can cram in. Lots of breathing in and out. There’s so much we need to calm down about … and there’s gong to be so much more.

Why calm down? Because it’s a long journey. and we have to act with purpose and not in reaction.

So I’m staying with Winter, and carefully considering what seeds I can plant and actually nurture in the time ahead. I can’t do everything, neither can you. Let’s focus on doing what we can and sowing the seeds of Peace we can nurture.

Staying with Winter, giving Peace a chance.

Graduating to Peacemaker

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Learning to be a Peacemaker is not easy. There are so many moving parts.

The work we are all to engage in is finding which part is ours to do. And then slowly, slowly, slowly, to get better at it. Along the way you’ll find other things you’re good at and you’ll add those. Along the way you’ll find things you’re really exquisitely awful at and you’ll put them aside forever. If they’re necessary to your part of the journey, you’ll find the one who does them well and joyously.

This is important. It’s going to be a long and difficult journey. We are not in a place of Peace. We must be the oases along the way. We must be Peace. We must Peace. We must be Peacemakers.

Graduation means childhood is gone. The stark reality and it’s unbelievable beauty is right in front of us.

Peace and blessings on our way.