Welcome to a walk along the water’s edge in a winter wonderland.
MacFarland Park, Ames, IA. January 2023
Oh the letter W. The highs and lows of the W…
straightforward: down, up, down, up…
meandering and soft: up, down, around, up, down, around, up, straight
frilly and embellished: up with grace, down with boldness, repeat, then squiggle
pathways of peace as the letter “w”… there are ups and downs… sometimes, peace is straightforward and direct, other times peace shows up as softness… round on the edges… and then there’s that aspect of peace, complicated and challenging with a disguise of fancy.
And with each change in direction of the brushstoke, the pen must pause. No matter the style of the “w,” the one thing they have in common is the pause in between directions of the pen.
Just like peace… regardless of how it shows up in our lives and the world, peace must include a pause.
Welcome…
a word that represents being open, inviting, inclusive and takes my mind to the topic of hospitality. I’ve written previously about the word “hospitality” in the context of peace. Many may think of being gracious, being that proper host when it comes to this word, yet Henry Nouwen had a different perspective.
“Hospitality is not to change people but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines...”
A space where change is possible… that’s a space I want to be… to walk in that place of possibility, to create a space where change can happen. Not because I defended an argument or made a strong enough case to persuade another, not to win.
To create a space where change can happen. Peace, not only as a welcoming and gracious host but as the power of possibility…
Walk in winter
Walk along the water’s frozen edge… to gaze in wonder of the marvels of our world. To know that winter is a time of pause, without which no spring can emerge. Take this time to ease into the shortness of these days… to watch the dark of night yield to the light of day and vice versa.
Water
we are water… 60% of our beings are water… 70% of the Earth is covered in water. The earths water meanders through our bodies… our blood”streams” are the rivers of our lives… water is wonder…
our relationship with water is germane to our existence… peace as relationship with self, others, and the Earth… mend what is within our reach… water… invite others into a space where change is possible… clean water as peace.
Peace nugget #19
peace as the letter “W.” Take some time today to go for a walk (or just get outside if walking is not possible) and ponder the letter “w” as a pathway for peace.
Walk with peace.
Can you think of other words that begin with the letter “w” that describe peace as relationhips that might be not so mainstream?
Which “w” word as a metaphor for peace captured your attention?
Other
I previously included a link to the music of Sara Thomsen. One of my most favorite songs that she has written is called “Water of Life.” Those words… oh, those words.
Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t address the severity of the water crisis in the US. Most are familiar with the Flint, MI water crises, however, clean water (or the lack thereof) is a critical issue, particularly in the Midwest. If you want to learn more about the connection between water quality and agriculture, Chris Jones has an excellent (and very direct) “blog” on Substack.
Only two more days until winter solstice. I absolutely love this day… a chance to celebrate winter, my favorite season. Remember to comment everyday if you can… there’ll be a few surprises. So, if you need to go back and read and comment on a few previous posts, now’s the time. And maybe you’ve been reading along each day and have chosen not to post. There’s something for you as well.
peace… one beat, one stitch, one step at a time
~Christina