Tag Archives: dogs

Missteps, Consequences and Peace

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This little pup didn’t really learn any consequences from getting into the flour. There were consequences… but she may or may not have connected them. Or at least I’m assuming that, but I fully confess I’m no dog psychologist. But dogs have been eating things they shouldn’t for millennia and offering them back to the world. yuck. (why no, i don’t have a pet…)

But we need to think more closely about how our acts and our non-acts affect people.

Particularly today, I think about all the shootings of Black men. We’ve been being horrified for years now. But most of us, and I include myself here, do nothing to stop it. Nothing to dig into the racism. Nothing to be supportive of the folks whose lives are in danger. Nothing to cry out. Nothing even to support the cops making such awful decisions… and this is from years of racist policing.

Where are our voices. Because the consequences from this land at our door as well.

That’s hard medicine for me to swallow. Turning to that old prophet Ezekiel: “Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash…”

All the words there are hard, aren’t they… Peace and Consequences. Let us Peace that the consequences begin to change.

everydaypeacefriday39sep23

 

Everyday Peace Comes with Purpose

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People talk easily about a dog’s life. Oh, they don’t do anything but lie around and relax.

But dogs have a purpose with their pack. They repel intruders. They find food. and yes, they sleep — so they can repel the intruders. Give them a little pleasure, like the chance to jump in a body of water or dash around a field an they’re happy. Give them what they need and every day is filled with Peace for them. When they don’t have those things they’re either aggressive or timid.

We have purpose as well, It might be doing this or that… anything from plumbing to writing — but I begin to believe, more and more, that we are here to make Peace.

We do a lousy job at it. Perhaps because of that, the world is letting us know just exactly how much it needs us to play an active role in Peacemaking.

I don’t know exactly what that role looks like, but I do know it’s necessary. Pick up a newspaper. Look around your town. Check out the environment. The world needs us. It needs me. It needs you. We’ll do different things. But we all must be about the business of Peace. Every day.

And because Peace is hard work, we should probably also take a few naps along the way, and spend some time dipping our toes in a body of water or racing around a field. It’ll make us happier. Being happier will make us a better Peacemaker, don’t you think?

So, next time you see a dog snoozing, remind yourself that naps help us get ready for the other things we need to do. Peacemaking, for the pups and for us.

EverydayPeaceFriday29Jul15

The World’s Gone to the Dogs and That Ain’t Good

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Dear Bartender and Priestess,

I’m not sure what I expect from you, but I feel like I need to get this off my chest. I’m just so taken aback. And angry. Okay, really angry.

I love dogs. I’m a dog owner and have always been a dog owner. Continue reading →

Present for Peace

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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.

EverydayPeaceFriday21May20

Pups for Peace

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Pups make Peace with every moment, don’t they?

They’re such good role models. Look, here we are and life is grand!

There was one of those sad stories on FB about a dog who had been brought to the animal shelter. Two months went by and the dog just got sadder and sadder. They posted the sad tale. You looked at the dog and wondered, will he ever recover if he does get a new home. (I refuse to say re-homed… whatever the hell does that mean… somehow making up for deserted?)

And then a couple days later there were pictures of him going home with his new Mom. It’s such a lovely story, he’s going to get to go to work at a nursing home and make lots of people happy. Sure there may be problems in this pups future, but at the moment, riding home in the car with the new person, the dog looks happy. Doggone happy! That look at how everything’s right with my world happy.

It’s hard to argue with. Whether or not you want to live with dogs, It’s always a good idea to know a couple who are glad to see you coming.

It’s also good to remember to be a bit more like them. After all, it’s not as if dogs don’t sense when something’s off. But the rest of the time? They’re all, “ok… here we go! Isn’t this great? Look food, let’s eat! And oh, what a great place for a nap!”

Both the keeping an eye out and then the joyous giving of self to the moment are great characteristics for Peace. Be like a pup… Find the Peace that’s right in front of your eyes and live into it. And occasionally look at someone like they hung the Moon! it makes life sweeter! Embrace the moment! Embrace the Joy! Embrace the Peace!

EverydayPeaceFriday7Feb12