Why owning peace matters

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I cannot be a channel of peace unless first I own it.

Sometimes I forget I'm semi-retired. Books to write, quilts to make, chickens to feed.... Chickens, at my age? I'm in my sixtieth year for crying out loud. What were we thinking when deciding to get baby chicks?

I'm tired, but not too weary to write a post. Just finished the dishes, not many, but our oatmeal bowls, my teapot, the stuff we need for the morning. Our kitchen is...old. Lol. No dishwasher, but a decent disposal. Big sinks. Lots of room to handwash all the dirty dishes we make. And thankfully we have an ancient concrete double sink in the equally aged laundry room to wash chick feeders and waterers. Hot water only, as the other two taps are hooked to the washer. For which I am also VERY GRATEFUL.

Despite feeling exhausted, peace has been flowing through me in healing waves. Despite needy chickens, a despotic president, and other world traumas (like what's happening to women in Afghanistan for instance), I have been feeling pretty damn calm. A few mornings ago I had more than a spate of tears for how broken is our planet, for my ill friend who has been in hospital for four weeks as well as her family trying to figure out what is wrong, and for other beloveds requiring prayers for healing and wholeness. I fully accept there will always be people in need, always some evil wrapping its gnarled fingers around the necks of unsuspecting humans. Yet balancing all that ugliness with the goodness of this life MATTERS SO VERY MUCH. I want my books to bring joy, relief, entertainment. I wish for my quilts to proffer warmth and love and wellness. I hope all my words, thoughts, and deeds are for the betterment of society. I desire to be a channel of peace.

I get no visits from Past or Future Me as this descends. All I have is my semi-retired self to offer, a body going on sixty years, a mind mostly together, my soul linked with love. Loving one another is paramount, because when we love each other, we treat each other with kindness, consideration, tenderness. We care for each other. All the crap that happens is because people won't or can't or refuse to care about one another, instead putting themselves first for whatever reason. I don't mean to boil this down to the essence, but what else is there? For if you truly love someone, their well-being will matter more than your own.

Things seem bleak right now, what with America's atrocious leadership, the appalling treatment of Palestinians, fires burning and people dying in floods, and wars raging all over this sphere. But as I said in an earlier paragraph, shite has always occurred. We can look to last century's two World Wars, then say we learned nothing from all that destruction. Why we learned nothing is for someone else to analyze. All I know is I cannot succumb to the horror, the terror, the futility. If I do that, my joy means nothing. Evil wins. I am here to love others, to do good, to be mindful, to channel peace. To raise chickens, write books, sew quilts. To craft blog posts that have little to do with books and quilts, because sometimes the things I enjoy doing aren't the focus. Love is the center. Peace is the result. I believe, and could be completely wrong, that if we demonstrate love and care, we spread peace. In loving each other, calm is the result.

The bird on the left does not like being held. Owl, on the right, is my most tame chick.

Two of our eight chickens like being held. A third accepts it. A fourth barely tolerates it. The other four won't let me hold them at all, and probably wouldn't even if I offered them meal worms. I respect those that decline my efforts, and lavish my attentions on the ones who permit me to scoop them into my palm. My tangible peace goes to those who wish for it, be they chickens or humans. As for those who choose to remain in chaos, I pray for peace to find them. Then I move on, because there's always something to do in this life. Sometimes it's as simple as sitting on the couch, admirning the waning afternoon sunshine, which here in Humboldt County is pretty darn terrific. Wherever you are today, I pray that peace finds you. And that you can share that peace with who or whatever comes your way.

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