Tag Archives: peace

Miracles and Peace, llvl

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There are so many miracles, large and small that are celebrated today and tonight. I love that the last night of Chanukah coincides with the first day of Christmas. That the Winter Solstice and the blessed Dark with animals whispering gleefully to one another occurs when the reindeer have to start their round the world trip.

(Joke of the day… you know the difference between caribou and reindeer? reindeer fly!)

And then in the midst of winter, a babe. I love that as we celebrate the holiness of Christmas and the birth of one particular babe, we will also sing: Each night a child is born is a holy night.”

Could we remember that all babies need cherishing and nurturing? Could we remember that every child needs to be fed?

My congo runs a program that supports weekend backpacks for kids, offering two breakfasts, two lunches, two snacks. You can donate over at Love Flows

Make the difference in a child’s having enough to eat… It may be the sweetest gift you ever give.

I wish you all the blessings and happiness of whatever you’re celebrating. and oh, how I wish us all Joy to the World and Peace on Earth. And sunrises as beautiful as this one.

LLVL52Dec24

Seasonal, Musical Peace, llvl

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There’s been all sorts of music for me  this holiday season. From listening to the intricate, beautifully wrought (and sung!) choral music right down to the music making with my voice teacher in her living room. Learning something new, hearing something fabulous.

Last night at the Mitchell Musical Mash-Up, the kids were back from college and grad school. Ahhhhhhhhh. Music, music, music.

People used to sit around and sing. We don’t do that enough. It’s one of my secret joys in church. I love that I can burst into song in the middle of a sermon and everyone will join right in!

One of the sweetest things about these Winter holidays is the music. Take your choice: old beloved music, hoary chestnuts and new and interesting pieces being written; There are wonderful sacred pieces from many traditions and lovely secular favorites. They get played to death on the radio and in the malls and we know ‘way too many of them, even the ones we don’t like!

Singing matters. Singing helps. Having a season defined by song is a rich tradition… and it allows the meaning to deepen every year. We need traditions. We need songs. So, let’s make some memories. Let’s sing along. Let’s hear what our neighbors are singing… and why not sing a sleighing song tonight and have a rollicking good time? Laughing all the way might bring us a bit closer to Joy to the World and Peace on Earth. What more could we ask?

LLVL51Dec23

Cow Peace, llvl

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Living in the country, I wind up learning country things.

Who knew that calves could be escape artists between the second and third wires?

I never dreamed I’d be worrying about untangling a goat either when I moved here. After all, I’d lived here before and never untangled a goat in all those years. I never worried about loose calves then either.

But I like having farmers I can ask questions and get answers like, they milk at six, they’ll be home. (It was 5:30!)

I do try and notice the Earth, although I’m not a very back to Nature or dig in the dirt kind of girl. But I take the web of life seriously. And I work hard at being a good neighbor, at doing good. So, when the cows are at Peace, I can be too.

(and besides last night was the night for the animals to have the gift of speech if you’re a Pagan, you wanted him to be around to talk to the sheep, didn’t you? And you didn’t want him to be on the loose…)

Peace on Earth everyone… and watch out for free ranging calves.

LLVL51Dec22

Solstice Sabbath Peace, llvl

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So much newness going on. It’s the new Cold Night Moon. It’s the Midwinter Solstice (6:03 pm). Blessed Dark! It’s still Chanukah! More light! It’s the Fourth Week of Advent: Peace on Earth! (And Hope! and Joy! and Love!) It’s also the Sabbath and I’m so taking a nap after services today!

(I’m going to start talking about the moon to get us ready. As we leave a year of living locally, we’re entering a year of Lunacy: by the end of the year, we’ll be looking for that orb in the sky and appreciating how the Moon works on our lives!

Although many people will be celebrating the return of the light, I will be lingering in the Dark… I celebrate its beauty and its calm. I’m not a naturally quiet person, so when the season turns dark, I’m encouraged to tunnel down into the Beauty and Silence.

Soon we’ll have snow and that will lighten the world considerably… but for now, shhh, the world is sleeping.

Peace to you, my friends. Peace on Earth! Wishing you Joy in this season of Sacred Holidays, whatever you celebrate. (and whatever you do, if you can find it in you, celebrate!)

LLVL51Dec21