Christmas: Set the pace for peace

The last weekend of November marks the beginning of the Advent, setting time for all of us to expectantly wait for the blessings of the Christmas season. While there are many opportunities this upcoming month to worship, serve and celebrate with friends and family; I’d like to suggest that this Advent season we should consider ways of setting a pace for peace.

When researching the word pace, I came across an image of a flag used by an Italian peace organization established in 1961. I discovered that the Italian word for “pace” is our word for “peace”.



"The Italian PEACE flag was inspired by the flag of Anglo-Saxon pacifists who marched in Aldermaston for an anti-nuclear protest, led by Bertrand Russell. Mr. Capitini asked some housewives from Perugia, who were friends of him, to sew with all possible speed some colored stripes to form a flag to be shown during the march. The women choose to sew the background of the flag in the colors of the rainbow in remembrance of the story of the Flood. God provided the rainbow after the flood as a seal of his alliance with humans and nature, promising that will never be another Flood. So the rainbow became the symbol of peace between the Earth and Heaven, therefore these ladies felt it was a good reminder of peace to humankind, making it their flag’s foundation."(http://flagspot.net/flags/it%7Dpace.html)

The Advent and Christmas season, is one where the words, “Peace on earth” are commonly seen on cards and heard on television commercials amidst the mass of commerce-driven advertisements. It might be possible for us to grasp peace as a reality this advent, if we are intentional in setting a calmer pace in our celebrations and traditions we take part in.

Just one of the ways that American families sometimes participate in the hectic pace of the holiday season revolves around November 28th, the day after Thanksgiving. This day is traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year and has earned the title of “Black Friday” due to the stress-filled accounts of early morning sales, over-crowded stores and a hectic paced shopping atmosphere.
In reaction to consumer-driven chaos of “Black Friday” a campaign called, “Buy nothing day” was set for November 28th to encourage people to not buy anything for 24 hours and begin thinking of ways to celebrate the holiday season that don’t revolve around what can be purchased. This year, the campaign has taken on a new twist and has been coined, “Make something day!” Instead of spending the traditional shopping day at the mall, what if we spent the day with our family and friends, making gifts from previously collected craft supplies or thrift store items? In this small way, we would make gifts and memories with and for the people we are closest too and take a step to set a pace for peace this holiday season. Without peace or pace – life is chaos!

While holiday shopping is one way we all celebrate this season of giving, we might be surprised by the joy that a “Make something day”, could add to our treasury of holiday traditions. I encourage you and your family to find ways of celebrating this season of wonder by taking part in traditions that foster peace, joy and love in anticipation of Christmas morning having gained a greater understanding of the priceless gift God gives though Jesus.
Peace on earth and good will to humankind,
Tara

(For more information on Make Something Day go to: http://www.makesomethingday.org/)

Set your pace

Setting a pace is not the same as running full tilt desperately trying to win a race.
Setting a pace allows for breathing, for seeing, and energy for kicking it when the finish is almost reaching.

Work in movement and take the time to stretch, to sing and even to rhyme.
We need so badly to check out and play: with dreams, paint and even some clay.

In setting a pace I will strive to succeed, avoiding frenzy - panic - and always having somewhere to be.

I need to create, express and to see - makes a much better person than hurry tries to force me to be.

Opening my eyes and unplugging my ears, will give me more wisdom and stay off frustrated tears.

Set the pace, allow some space, set the place, write it down and make the time.
Set your pace.

Poem by: T.L. Eastman 2008

Miracle for Levi

A few weeks ago, I reconnected with an old friend via Facebook and had enjoyed learning about his life and family. About a week ago, Drew's son Levi had a serious and sudden health scare when having a cardiac arrest in gym class. Over the first few traumatic days in the hospital, Facebook, lit up with prayer request and support for Levi and his mom and dad. It is a miracle that Levi is doing well and apparently has no ill effects from this incident. Go to Levi's news story to learn more.
Go to "Become a fan of Levi" - a group on Facebook started by his dad Drew to leave notes of encouragement for Levi in his recovery process.

Keep praying!
Tara

SWB: Old ghosts and affirmations

The bakery of my life has been busy the last few weeks with attending the NYWC in Pittsburgh, PA and settling in at my new church. There has been a great deal of letting go and holding on going on in my life, but I will try to be selective in the ones I share with you for this Monday's sleeping with bread.



Some of the things I have been trying to leave behind me are connected to sensitive areas or hurt or loss. Some are connected to my childhood and upheavals in my late adolescence, some are related to my vocation and calling in ministry, but they all prove to be associations or specters of boundaries established by sometimes well-meaning, but short-sighted folks or my own doubting voice. I am trying to uncurl the fingers of past hurt to allow remaining words of doubts, negativity, and fear to be exposed to the light of new opportunity and fresh perspective to provide a healing touch some areas of long-time sensitivity. I sense that even after thinking I've dealt with some things in the past, I find an underlying nagging that I'm not quite done with some of the ghosts yet. As I open up the door and let these things have the chance to speak, I hope that I have the ears to really listen and the heart to feel so that they can truly rest and I can grow through the process.



Thankfully, in the midst of all the ghosts - I feel as if I have a great deal to hold on too. New vision for the present and the future, affirmation in creativity and ministry, the act of making appointments with God ( and keeping them), living and growing in the sacred space that I used to be too busy or impatient to appreciate, and so much more.

One of the hardest things to work through is the loss or change of relationships with people we love. Parents, siblings, co-workers and friends have a way of coming and going in our lives, either physically or in the proximity of closeness we perceive. God, however is always with us. Yes, sometimes we feel the presence of God as close as our own heart beat and sometimes all we can hear is silence, but the fact remains that God is always present. Sometimes we just aren't' tuned in to the right channel or sometimes the quiet is what really need. It's just important for me on this Monday to reaffirm and reflect on the consistency of God in the midst of life and world that is ever changing.

Isaiah 40: 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

We all have ghosts in our lives, echos of negative that we struggle to out shout or out live; but we also have ones that speak encouragement, life and hope. In times that I thought God was silent, I now recognise God speaking through those around me, books I read and smiles from strangers on the street. As I become more aware of God's voice and face in my own little world, I hope that I too can be a vessel of God and speak to those around me that are needing to hear words of hope,love, and promise. May I hold on to the words of God and be a satellite for those who are trapped in silence.

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[m] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May I hold onto the dreams of life my Creator, Redeemer and Comforter has planted within me knowing I am not alone in working through the nightmares. I am not alone, and neither are you. This is bread to hold on to.