GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
The mantra sung and chanted and begged for in 1969.
1969.
War rages and protests break out all over.
Charles Manson cult members murder 5 people.
Hurricane kills 248 people.
Chappaquiddick (look it up).
Police raid a gay club in New York City. The Stonewall Riot ensues.
1969 sounds like a year I would want to AVOID with all my might.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
What the messenger asked of a young, brown-skinned, oppressed, poor girl named Mary.
4 BCish.
Herod the Great kills his own family to hold onto his reign of brutality.
Taxation of the poor is almost 50-60%.
The main feature of life is gender separation except for sex.
Revolts and uprisings are commonplace.
Politics and religion intertwine and hatred for the “other” rules.
4 BCish sounds like a year I would want to AVOID with all my might.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
What our collective, modern-day hearts continue to yearn and plead for.
2020
COVID threatens everything we have worked so hard for.
Politics and religion intertwine and hatred for the “other” rules.
Sex-trafficking is at an all-time high.
Natural disasters are some of the most destructive ever.
Racial tension sparks protests and riots and looting.
2020 is a year I want to AVOID with all my might (I bet you do too).
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
PEACE.
The idea that ALL IS WELL.
inside and outside
individually and collectively
mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally
for EVERYONE.
Not just for some.
Not just for the rich.
Not just for the healthy.
Not just for the insiders.
Not just for the free.
BUT for everyone.
The rich and the poor.
The healthy and the sick.
The insiders and the marginalized.
The free and the prisoner.
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
PEACE.
HOW? HOW? HOW?
Begged for in 1969.
Asked for in 4 BC (ish).
Yearned for STILL in 2020.
Something so elusive. So difficult. So needed.
HOW? HOW? HOW?
HOW DO WE MAKE PEACE?
[not how do we KEEP peace – the want to AVOID with all my might]
1969.
4 BCish.
2020.
We MAKE PEACE by embracing that “ALL are created equal.” ALL.
Not just the ones who look, believe and act like us.
We MAKE PEACE by being willing to resolve turmoil.
Both what rages on the outside and on the inside of us.
We MAKE PEACE by standing up for it. Saying “NO MORE!”
Both for others and ourselves.
We MAKE PEACE by fighting for it.
In our own hearts and homes first, but NOT stopping there.
We MAKE PEACE by making room (just like Mary in 4 BCish) for the Prince of Peace.
The One who embraces that ALL are created equal.
The One who resolves the turmoil that rages inside and out.
The One who stands up and says “NO MORE!”
The One who fights for our hearts and our homes, but does not stop there!
The One who shows up every moment of every day of every single year (even 2020)…and tenderly says…
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE.
**I lit the peace candle this morning for Advent week TWO**
The Dolly Mama 