Focusing on Peace, llvl

There are so many distractions, and they’re noisy and brightly colored and many of them awful. And so we run from pillar to post, poking at this, poking at that… and it pulls us away — maybe it’s only me, but i doubt it — it pulls us away from what we can do.

We have to witness, yes. People need to know we hear and see them and their plight. And we have to keep making a difference where we can. We have to speak up, gently, firmly, insistently. And we have to keep making a difference where we can.

If Peace really is piecework, then I have to keep working my little bit of it, building up piles to be put into the pattern so that you can do your little piece of it and so that together it starts to be a blanket that covers us in Possibility, Hope and Comfort. And every once in a while we should feast and dance and rejoice because that does a heart and body good. (and a mind and a soul!)

Seeing the madness. Hearing the hatred. Insisting on Peace.

Hope and Peace, llvl

It’s been a bit “sloggy” around here recently. Hard work with small minds safely filled with old stereotypes. And then, this…

As you all know, if you’re following me, my little town recently lost a rising star. A young man, musician, poet, nice guy, skateboarder, high school kid, died in a car crash. Our students and our parents have been reeling with the grief. It hits at so many levels. The high school band has been having a very hard time.

And again I say, and then this.

They played an away game. You know local football rivalries in small towns, we live for them (well many of us do!) and they’re fierce.

But this day the home team band stopped their performance and asked for a moment of silence in memory of Miles. They read a poem. They gave a tree to his family to plant in his honor. It is the sweetest, most generous thing I’ve ever heard. What a lovely ability to see beyond their life… What a gift of being seen for the away team. Let us give thanks!

There’s Hope, folks, and we need to fan that flame every chance we get. Because that’s where beauty lies. That’s where Peace lives.

Peace Is Not the Color of Blood, llvl

Yesterday in this blog, I wrote, in dying color, thinking back to an old ad for some film process… and it pierced my heart.

I allowed myself to go on retreat. We all need that. Whatever we do. As a person of faith and action, I’ve needed some time to fill up, to be at rest, to be in prayer. It was amazing. But, when we’re done, we come home, back to the world.

Coming back to this world right now has been shocking. Someone said there are 47 different wars going on right now. I don’t know if that counts Fergeson, MO. The level of violence is gruesome and grisley and overwhelming.

I’m not sure what the best response for me is at the moment. But I’m thinking. I’m reading. I’m praying (hard). I’m talking with my counselors… I’m searching, in what I hope is not just a Pollyanna way for Hope… looking for ways that I might contribute to Peace in whatever fashion I may. One fashion will be feeding children, that’s for sure.

But I’m also mourning. And at the same time, my courage and conscience are firming. All children are our children. I believe there is another way or rather other ways. I know so many who are finding small ways forward. I hope we all are. Forward into Peace.

Swedish Sabbath Peace, llvl

This morning there is indeed Sabbath Peace in our hearts. Lorraine’s son called her about 11 last evening. He’d just seen his aunt’s post on Facebook. Her son was missing. He’d fought with his parents and stormed off. He was drinking, they knew that. He can’t drink on the medications he’s on, they knew that. He hadn’t shown up the evening before for an 11 o’clock meet at a concert.

What to do, what to do? They called. They posted on FB. People shared. His sister and her friends shared. The rest of us just hoped and prayed and willed best outcomes. But people came forward to comfort and to reassure. It’s happened to me, I’ve had that fear; yet it was ok.

Most of the time it is ok… but sometimes it isn’t. But there you were, willing to take a moment to think about a young man you’ll never meet and a frantic mom and dad. To hold your friend who holds her friends. Community, with the loosest of connections, but stepping up to be community.

So today, because of where I am and because of who you are, I’m counting blessings and giving thanks. For all the places we miss the mark, there are plenty where the arrow flies true. Thanks for being those well aimed friends. Love, it’s for everyone. Peace lies in our hands, which today were very capable. We must remember how capable we are!

Defiant Peace, llvl

So much of the world is embroiled in out-right conflict. And more is stuck on fear. Sometimes it feels overwhelming. It’s awkward balancing between awareness of this and of giving into the discomfort.

Rose-colored glasses don’t work because they hide the truth. At some point we need to get to work in the muck. And just because the muck is real and sometimes huge, doesn’t mean we can’t work on cleaning up our small corner of the world.

I believe I’m best suited to do that here where I live. Together, we make small changes, and move slowly forward. let’s acknowledge that forward momentum. Celebrate. and start cleaning again! We are the answer and Peace’s small hope…

Morning After Peace, llvl

I’ve been thinking about Jeremiah… I’ve always liked that hoary Hebrew Scripture prophet — at least from a distance. I think he’d not have been a comfortable buddy. There’s more written by him than any other Biblical character. He ran around trying hard to get people to wake up! “Peace! Peace! the people cried. But there is no Peace.”

We talk easily about Peace. But we don’t do Peace. We’ve allowed ourselves to let that settle back… A few old guys on the Post Office Corner on Saturdays, and nothing much else. We want Peace or so we say, but we don’t go out of our way for it…

We don’t understand the work it is. It is as hard as war, harder. It demands compromise. It demands generosity. It demands sacrifice. It demands Love. It demands knowing we are not all that matters.

It looks both exactly the same and very different in different communities. Peace is local. Peace is global.

It’s heartbreaking right now to read the news. To see people of this nation hating… and calling it Peace. Hating people of different religious groups, while claiming oppression. Hating small children seeking the same Rights and Hopes our forebears sought. Carrying guns to shop for underwear rather than taking cookies next door to newcomers. And to see our government be so far from a government of the people, by the people, for the people.

And yet we balance these hard and sad truths with groups working to feed local children, create local liveable communities for seniors, making music across all sorts of lines. I work hard to find the Hope. I wish I had to look farther for the ugliness…

Peace. Let me be Peace. Let us make Peace. Let us keep shoving back the hatred. Isn’t that a worthy goal for this Fourth of July Weekend?

The Peace That Is, llvl

We so often want what is different from what we have that we overlook the bounty of what we have.

And when things we’ve loved die, we mourn because we miss them. And we do, we miss both the things and the people… But at some point, our grief must make place for the splendor that still is.

It’s a delicate process to find the balance where we care for our grieving hearts and manage to let the beauty heal us. But in that Peace garden, we can find both our healing and our purpose, possibilities exist. Sometimes the gardens are actual gardens. Sometimes the Peace garden is our little local life. Sometimes it’s a world stage. Wherever it is, Peace it up! And enjoy what is…

Circle of Peace, llvl

Yesterday I received a call, asking me if I were free to perform a wedding. He and his partner are taking advantage of the new changes to the law in Pennsylvania and choosing to protect their relationship of many years. He called me because he had participated in a celebration of life service that I did.

Turns out that the memorial was for a dear friend whose wife is one of my besties. The poignancy of that connection was piercing. And where did I go in the midst of all that sniffling? Well, right to this week’s picture-perfect puzzle piece of the Sky. There we were, this world and the next, neatly folded together.

So that’s another piece, the way someone’s vision inspires and explains my own. another easy fit. Something you can find if you open to the possibility of its being there. Something that is there if you ask…

And, today, there will be another picture. How can it be as wonderful as this one? I often ask myself that… but then it is. and it is because the seasons keep turning and something shows up that’s worthy of our notice. And that’s the lovely sacred, sweetness of Life and Joy and Peace. We have to make space for the Wonder and the Hope, or people won’t pay attention. Yes, that’s our job, making space for the incredible. Sometimes just saying Oh, look at that, changes everything. It’s pretty simple if you think about it.

Life moves from Winter to Summer and back again. Life moves from Death to Commitment. Live moves and we get to be part of that — and we get to have companions on the way. Pretty damn’ sweet!

Peace World, llvl

I never think of the sky’s having straight lines. It’s all puffs and spirals. But here’s proof, jagged lines bisecting the sky and the river. Two pieces of a puzzle joined together in living color. The divine bow, the sweet cut. Is it fanciful to believe that Peace fits into our daily life so sweetly? Maybe. Childish to look and see such possibility? Perhaps it’s only child-like.

But when I look at this picture, I see Hope and Encouragement. And I will embrace them wherever I see them.

And I’ll even rejoice to be reminded that I can dream of stepping into the Wardrobe or through the train wall. J. K. Rowling not only taught children to believe, she reminded us to dream.

So dream of Peace and consider stepping into it. Deb Slade, thank you for all you do!

Popes for Peace, llvl

Well, it’s not my local vida, but it’s the vida local at the heart of three important religious traditions. There where there should be Peace, there is only conflict.

I can’t tell you that Francis’ gesture toward Palestine and Israel will go anywhere, neither can he. But his open-hearted invitation and their acceptance gives Hope. This is the work Popes are supposed to do, since no one else is making any progress. On the sixth of June, when they pray together, may we all pray for Peace between Palestine and Israel. And as our prayers hang in the air, like incense, let us wage Peace.

If Peace doesn’t start with one of us, it doesn’t start. All our high-minded posts on social media about revering the soldiers don’t matter today, they matter tomorrow and the days after that. If we revere them we do everything we can to keep them safe. We do that by addressing the Need and the Possibilities for Peace that don’t demand their ultimate sacrifice.

Sacred Village

Building a World of Peace, Village by Sacred Village.

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