Sunday, February 28, 2010

Thought on peace

The below scripture and thought is from the Sojourner's website.  I felt it fit well with my emphasis on peace this Lenten season.

Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Very often, people who are in conversation with servants, people who gain knowledge of the realities of life

Valerie Elverton Dixon, from her essay,"Servant Knowledge"

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Ashes, blues and peace

So I apologize to my readers, that I have taken so long to write on here. I feel like I have had writers block for awhile. I have written in my journal, but those are more personal writtings. Anyways a little reflection from today...ramblings as usual.

We had our ashe wednesday service tonight at chapel and it is always meaningful to perform various spiritual rituals with my kids. I love communion weeks and tonight was special as well. Taking the time with each kid and staff to have them kneel and then putting a sign of the cross on their heads and sending them forth with a blessing is meaningful. Rituals can be very moving.

I think I have the winter time blues...I just am in a rut, with my faith, with friends, with my routine...my life just seems to need a recharge. I am hoping I am just in need of a vacation...which I will be in North Carolina in a month! I need to see the ground, I am sick of snow! I want sunshine and flowers! I want to wear flip flops and go to the park. I want to have a picnic.
I do not do good with the unknown, I am a planner. I like to be in control. Currently I have no idea what my future holds. It is a big year of change. Change with my family, change in my life, change in jobs, change in location. Crazy times, but so much amazing future on the horizon, lots of joyous events!

As we enter into this season of Lent, I know the blues are not going to just magically leave, and the ashes on my head right now are a good reminder of that. But times are a changing and Easter and spring are on the horizon. And as my addition to my life during Lent I am going to try to add more peace to my life and others lives.  Tonight in celebration of Black History Month, I shared with the kids about Maya Angelou, the amazing poet, and shared her poem Amazing Peace.  I will share it below with you:
 
In our joy, we think we hear a whisper.


At first it is too soft. Then only half heard.

We listen carefully as it gathers strength.

We hear a sweetness.

The word is Peace.

It is loud now.

Louder than the explosion of bombs.

We tremble at the sound.

We are thrilled by its presence.

It is what we have hungered for.

Not just the absence of war. But true Peace.

A harmony of spirit, and comfort of courtesies.

Security for our beloveds and their beloveds.


We, Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers,

Look heavenward and speak the word aloud.

Peace. We look at each other, then into ourselves,

And we say without shyness or apology or hesitation:

Peace, My Brother.

Peace, My Sister.

Peace, My Soul.


As I enter into this season of Lent, those last 3 lines stick with me, and will be my focus.