Chapter 1.
Long, long ago in a far off land there lived two friends in a tiny rural village. They were the same age and had been the best of friends for as long as anyone could remember. Candace was adventurous, a bit of a free-spirit and longed to see the world... to find that perfect place. The villagers described Penny as the kindest person they'd ever known. Penny was kind, not just nice but genuinely kind and she felt at home wherever she was. The two girls were inseparable.
The two young lassies spent their days assuring that the fundamental needs of the village and villagers were met. They built houses, fetched water, and made meals using produce they grew each summer; their door was open to all who needed their help. Candace, a spinner, magically converted the fleeces from the local flocks into the most coveted yarn and Penny knit up hats, mittens, sweaters and socks to clothe the villagers especially to keep them warm during the long winters. Penny felt fulfilled with the work she was doing however Candace's heart stirred... she was called to see the world. She knew their must be more...
As time passed and the villagers continued to draw upon the help of the two girls something happened. Penny, a giver from the heart started to weaken. No medical provider in any of the near-by villages could determine what was wrong. She continued to work and work and work despite her fatigue but Candace was worried... how long would Penny be able to persevere.
Knowing that winter was approaching, Candace and Penny were sharing a cup of tea as they had daily for as long as they could recall. They took great pleasure in the ritual that had come to be with pouring the tea and placing their hands around the cup just so, pulling the cup close to their heart before taking a sip. After a long period of silence, Candace said in a soft and gentle tone, "I must go. I need to see the world, to meet people from other villages to view how they live. I must find a cure for what ails you my dearest friend as you cannot continue to give, and give, and give. I will return with tales from afar, a remedy for your sickness, and find the perfect place to live."
Penny's heart crumbled. How would she live without her friend... and for how long? Yet Penny knew that she must let Candace go. Penny knew that as much as it was her destiny to stay in the village to help others, she knew that Candace needed to immerse herself in the world beyond the forests of the village.
So Candace packed up a few of her things in a tiny knapsack and headed out the door. Penny sat down to knit and vowed to continue knitting until the day Candace returned.
Chapter 2.
What happens next?
Day 20. Peace tip.
Storytelling is a powerful way for us to share experiences, traditions, and knowledge of our cultures and wishes. For ages, we've been passing down stories from one generation to the next and keeping this practice alive connects us through all ages. Creating stories that connects the past, the present and the future is another way for us to bring peace into our day.
Today's tip is to write Chapter 2. Take a moment and reflect "what happens next to Penny and Candace." Consider sharing Chapter 2 with all of us... perhaps your chapter 2 really is the next part of the story.
Tomorrow (12/21), I'll provide you with the final chapter of the story on our last day of this peace-along. There will be another give-away tomorrow. I'll announce the give-aways (including the winner of the candle) on a blog post on Friday. My hope is that each one of you has found a little more peace in your day compared to where you were 20 days ago.
And please, take the opportunity to knit intentionally for peace tomorrow. Knitters from around the world will be participating. If you haven't had a chance to place a pin on the map denoting your location, please do so. Perhaps it's the scientist in me wanting to have data but really, this demonstrates our knitted efforts to promote peace. Here's the link to the map. If you have troubles with the map, just email me.
Peace is a journey... one stitch at a time.
~Christina
