The Peace We Have to Offer

In a world awash in violence and carelessness, what do we do? How are we Peacemakers?

I don’t know what to do about Daish or Boko Haram. I don’t know what to do about Oil spills. I am aghast at the ugliness of our political process. I watch what happens in the world in sad horror.

Yesterday was one of those days where I felt helpless. I couldn’t focus on the stuff I do do and can do, I could only see the spots where loving hands and peaceful hearts are not, as yet, having an impact. I don’t have money to give and I don’t know how effective petitions are, although i sign them, religiously — in every sense of that word!

Someone asked the other day, when talking about unemployment, the need for retraining (which means the need for a community college that is accessible and affordable), and the need for new organizations, when do we teach people to fish. It’s hard not to hear that as a reproach. But I have to remember, that our small community can’t change these things. that’s not our mission. We can agitate for it, and maybe some of our members can engage in that, but our community can do what we do best: gather money for backpacks and hygiene products, support local charities and help our migrant workers.

Aside from that, I can stay informed. I can mourn the horror. And I can work hard at kindness. Every day. Because it matters. Every day Peace. Every day.

Present for Peace

If Peace is going to happen, we’re going to have to show up. We’ll have to show up eagerly, hopefully, purposefully. We’ll have to be there with our whole heart.

The time for holding back is gone. It’s time for generosity.

Every day we need to be showing up and doing our best for Peace. She goes nowhere without us.

This goofy happy dog made me realize, yep. Dogs. They show up for the pack. Here I am, I love you! We could learn a lot from dogs about showing up.

And because we’re humans, we can be deliberate about enlarging the pack we run with.

Peace wants us. Let’s show up.

Campfires, Treats, and Nature

I like this picture, it captures something wonderful and something less than wonderful. (Spoiler alert, Ann reveals herself as a traditionalist)

Mountain pies and s’mores are great things. Especially when they come enveloped in history. Remember the time and place we…

That’s not so true anymore. Everything needs to be instant. Nothing can be special, reserved for those moments when all the right ingredients are there. When you’re in the place that they happen.

S’mores from the truck are a tasty treat. But they have no history. If you have the history, then they’ll spark a memory. If you don’t have history, it’s just one more bit of sugar.

And frankly, they’re a sticky mess. Too much drippy marshmallow. ‘Way too sweet. You don’t really EVER need a s’more, in fact, there’s good reason not to eat them, but they’re great when you’re hangin’ by the fire.

But here we are lined up for something as ephemeral as memory…

Let’s maybe find a different way to make Peace.

We Come in Peace

There they stand, sentinels at the ready. Do you need me? No. Then we will wait until you do.

It’s difficult not to anthropomorphize tech, is it?

It’s wonderful that we have it. And there has always been need. It’s just that the need is greater. For all the grey we’re still ‘way behind on water in this area.

We need to pay attention to our Earth and how we live on it. We need to take seriously in our lives the stuff we read and ooh and ah about.

Work for earth justice… She needs more help than machines can offer. Because they aren’t aliens… sadly.

But they’re still cute!

Peace on Earth. Love your Mother.

Making Peace with the Coming of Weather

I come, as I’m sure I’ve told you, from a family of cloud watchers. Time was I could tell you each and every name. Now I just pause in admiration.

But I always thought it was magical to see a storm contained in a cloud moving across the landscape. Apparently I’m not the only one. Here’s what my friend Barbara had to say. (If we’re lucky, we’ll see her photos next year.) Beautiful words… can’t you see it coming in?

“Reminded me of when we lived in the country. Our house was up on the mountain above the UPS on route 11. We were part way up the ridge, with the back of the house in the middle of a field, facing the woods and the woods continued up the rest of the ridge. We could see the weather come over the mountain. Usually storms came from the northwest edge of the natural bowl we lived in. The woods were loaded with silver leaf maples. We could stand at the back of our driveway and watch the storms come over the mountain. First the sky would get dark as the clouds came over the ridge, then as the wind began to blow, the trees offered the silver under bellies of the leaves. It was like watching ocean waves as the wind caused waves of silver washing from the northwest, across the trees…across the mountain.

First we could hear the thunder, see the lightening.

Next we could see the wind as the branches blew revealing the leaves’ silver. Waves of silver moving west to east. Thunder, lightening, dark clouds, leaves blowing. We could hear the rustling of the leaves as the wind and rain moved over the mountain and across the tree line always west to east.

Excitement would increase as the rustling, the silver waves got closer. We could watch the rain line moving towards us as more silver revealed itself. The rustling got louder, the darkness filled the sky…wave upon wave of silver leaves spread from the western edge of the tree line to the trees directly behind us. we could feel the wind, feel the energy of the storm but we didn’t want to go in, to leave the intensifying excitement of the approaching storm. Finally as the wave of silver passed us, sheets of rain fell and we would retreat to the safety of our home.

Summer afternoons and evenings brought thunderstorms. In our corner of Northumberland county they brought waves of silver, waves of beauty and waves of excitement.”

Peace my friends, Peace of the silver storms to you.

The Peace of Lunch with a Friend

For me, taking a meal with a beloved is one of the sweetest things I can do. It opens and indulges so many of the senses and it helps me look closely at my life. I remember who I was when I met the friend and how we’ve grown together and I am reassured that some things are eternal gifts.

Even when people are no longer in our lives or no longer alive, those memories remain jewels that can be taken out and treasured.

Friends help us keep our balance. They reassure us and they tell us the truth — good, bad and ugly. They love us any way.

And then you add favorite foods that are shared and savored. What’s not to like? I was out with a girl friend the other day, we were eating some incredible french fries and giggling. The chef later said I wanted to say hello, but every time I came by you had your heads together and were laughing. “Yep,” sez I, “better change the name of those delights to gigglefest fries…”

So, indulge. Nothing puts your life back on track like lunch with a friend. Well, maybe breakfast or dinner, or a snack, or cake. Everyone needs the Peace of that. And with Peace in your heart, you go on from there. Peace, my dears…

Dawn, Sabbath, Peace

Sigh. I was up. but I couldn’t make it out of the house. Too many exercises to do with the PT. And although my Sabbath is perhaps a good day to do this… it’s also my busiest work day, so there are lists to be gotten through before I walk out the door. Do I have this and this and this?

I’ve gotten so far away from early mornings. I confess, I think fb is the culprit. it would be good to go away from it for a while. maybe this summer I’ll let myself escape.

But if beauty is on offer, why not enjoy it?

We need to fill up so we can give to Peace. And Dawn is always a delightful reminder that Peace is possible.

Wishing you all a day of reflection and joy.

Look Up for Peace

The skies are filled with Beauty.

Recently, people have been filled with complaints about the grey skies — and haven’t bothered to look and be astounded.

Sometimes the grey blows in and just hangs there. But often the clouds shift, part, close, open. Amazing things are happening right above you. Free of charge. Enjoy!

And sometimes they part and light spills down in a water fall.

The other night around sunset, this happened and the spill of light was completely rainbow colored. It was gorgeous!

Peace, falling out of the clouds in so many colors. People look up!

Peeps. Peace. It’s a bit of a stretch!

Is it just that I’m not feeling creative? or is it really a stretch to find something to say about Peeps and Peace beyond the 14 lines I already cranked out?

They’re adorable. They grow up and bring eggs. That’s a good thing.

Maybe this? Peace needs to be carefully nurtured. (Peeps too.) It’s tender and fragile. (Peeps too.)

Peace be with you. Peeps only if you want them… But they’re pretty cute!

Find a Book of Peace to Read

Books can give us Peace. They can stir us to pursue Peace.

It’s all quite wonderful.

My whole life books have been companion, refuge, friend and inspiration.

I have some books that I read over and over again because the characters in them are comfortable friends. I always laugh. I always cry. In the same places. I often discover something I’ve discovered before and forgotten just how much it soothes/pleases/stirs me. I read them at night to settle my brain. I read them during the day to move between one project and the next.

I have some books I’ll read only once, even though i may have underlined or dog eared it. Yes, I do that. it’s my book. It helps me remember what it’s teaching me.

There are other books I move out of my house because they are not “my” books.

There are so many ways I make Peace with books in my life.

And then there are those books that push me to think, to dream, to do something about a situation that needs attention. Ah, I cherish them as well.

What do they do for you those books on your shelves, or on your bedside table, or on a pile on the floor beside your favorite chair or in a corner?

Peace. Let’s open those pages and find it. Let’s close those books and make it!

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

The Priestess Is In