It’s time to reconsider where we get our fuel.
I’ve been so caught by Van Jones’ notion that what’s in the ground is dead… and we don’t dig it up…
And we’ve clear cut this nation at least once… and that’s proven itself not a good thing.
But we have winds and we have sun… And they’re not going anywhere anytime soon…
Let’s think differently. Let’s Peace differently, shall we?
We’re the ones. I don’t know if we’re the ones we’ve been waiting for, but we’re the ones we’ve got. And we aren’t waiting any longer — because people are going to need us.
Are you a refuge? Are you an ally? are you an organizer? Are you a politician? Are you a donor? Are you a good friend? Are you — am I, because these questions aren’t just for you — trustworthy?
It’s going to come down to being a good friend to the world and our country: its peoples, its land, air, and waters, its climate. What kind of world are we going to demand of ourselves? Will it be kind? Will it be just? Will it be one that acknowledges the realities of all people, not simply ourselves?
Oh, I hope so. I’ve said this forever. Now more than ever, let’s Peace. (and Peace means so much more than many think… and we remember: No Justice, No Peace.)
Beauty has been hanging on the trees. But the stark bones of life are slowly revealing themselves. Tree branches write their story against the sky.
Some of what we’re seeing is ugly and frightening. But some of it is beautiful. It’s a long while until spring… We’re going to have to see the Beauty that is and help reveal it to the world. We’re going to have to be the Peace… both leaving and staying and coming.
And this just in — a friend just quoted Annie LaMotte: “We do not need to get it together before we show up.”
On the one hand in this picture, this is just another picture of a winter field… stark, but beautiful.
But as I look at it now, as we enter into Winter, I think of the conversations that need to be held in the dark in the months to come.
What does Peace look like — what does it need to look like in the time to come? What has grown well in these fields before? What are people hungry for? What will nurture the people? What will keep us going for the struggle ahead? What will give us delight.
As you know, I’m not a very garden-y person… but we are going to need to sow peace. and we might well need to sow food for eating… what do the fields need to be able to support this?
What will nurture our hearts so that Peace can grow there? That’s really at the base of this analogy isn’t it? And let us remember Peace is a vast, imposing and demanding thing, not something sweet and light… People, get ready…
Yesterday, this heart that watered our souls was a beautiful symbol. We must be ready I thought… what better symbol than a fountain of love?
Later that day, after I finished my message for the night, i realized I was not ready for the reality that other people are already inhabiting — have been inhabiting for years.
And I don’t get time to get ready. I have people who need me to be responsive; to see them and to see what is happening to them and to stand with them.
This heart becomes a rallying cry.
My heart must lubricate theirs. So must yours. And we must lubricate each other’s because there is a lot of hate and we’re the antidote.
We must choose Peace. Look for the fountains of love to support you and renew your spirit within you…
So many people I know have written stories about stress eating in times of well, stress.
There is so much to be said for comfort food. First, mmm. Second, comfort!
But there’s a lot to be said about it that reminds us that it isn’t our best friend.
Comfort food is rarely celery. Who do you know who says or writes to you, OMG, I was so depressed I ate an entire BUNCH of celery or a whole HEAD of lettuce. Nope it’s usually something carb or sugar related.
I like sugar and carbs as well as the next person… but they’re not really all that good for us in unmeasured quantities.
I’m not saying don’t do it… because times of stress are stressful. I am saying that, for me, sliding into comfort food is often a long slide toward a lot of comfort food. Like any other drug it dulls you. Thank it for its comfort… and plan a healthy meal.
Peace needs us alert and on the journey… Let’s Peace. The world needs us.
Well, here we go. There is quite a road ahead. There always was; now we know a bit more about it — even though there is much we don’t know, can’t know until things play out.
But what we know is that we are still expected to be decent and kind. We are still expected to shelter those who are in need of refuge. How we do that will be settled on bye and bye… and in the meantime, here we are.
Peace is still our destination. It may be farther than we thought, but hey it always takes longer than we think. Pack good food; take frequent breaks to see the scenery; and check out the beautiful scenery on the way. Aid those you encounter; accept their helping hand.
Laugh. Laugh a whole lot.
We’re in it for the long haul. Woke up this morning with my mind set on Peace. I’m not about to turn back now. If we leave now, we can stop for breakfast on the way.
The dead are always with us. Those of us who knew and loved them long for them and mourn their passing. As long as we remember them they are somehow still with us… those real people, who laughed and snarked and tried and failed and loved us back. Life continues.
But there are those dead whom we must remember whom we never knew. There are those who died of poverty and neglect. To them, we can only say, we will try to do better.
There are those who died in wars. Some died valiantly, defending a cause they believed in. Some died valiantly because we asked it of them. All have served valiantly and we are not grateful enough — even when we are uncertain about war and its purpose.
Too many have died in wars. Too many veterans have had to leave their families for uncertain causes. Too many are gravely wounded in too many ways. Too few are well taken care of when they return.
And too many of us ignore the wars of the world and the victims who are not military.
Veterans day is over for the year… Remembrance must continue… and with that a heartfelt movement to bring Peace about in the world. It’s on us. We owe the dead that. We owe the living the same. Peace. The work of the world.
I find I still have high expectations of folk. I expect us all to be courteous and kind. No exceptions.
If your candidate won or didn’t, you are and your neighbor is an American.
We may have very different ideas. We can still expect respect and have it expected of us.
Those whose dreams were not realized will need some time to figure out how we fit ourselves in, what we see our work to be. Those whose hopes came true had best find out how they will be a part of the government they elected.
I am not a strategist. I don’t know what to do next, but I know this: Peace is still the unwavering goal. Kindness and respect still pave the road.
This morning, and every morning moving forward, I’m going to have a whole new vision of Peace on my heart.
I say Peace every day at the end of what I write. Now the world gets to ask if I mean it.
My young parents are worried for their children. My young women (and my old) are clear we’ve been said no to. My queer friends are worried for their love. My friends of color are just scared. My Muslim friends are worried for their safety… and some of my Jewish friends as well.
I don’t know exactly what I mean when I say I will harbor you. I do know I’m going to find out. I do know that Peace means the world. Peace.
