A week of poetic feet selfies #2 --- what we can't know by James LaVilla-Havelin

what we can’t know

the number of the dead
the stretch of an hour
a bird’s heart
how our embrace feels to the embraced
the moment of a flower’s opening
dirt’s weight
outermost ripples of friendship and love
peace
what our hands do while we sleep
a lie’s uncurling
the depth of loss
an insect’s view
silence
morning brushing against treetops
how we are remembered

James LaVilla-Havelin, "what we can't know" from Counting. Copyright © 2010 by James LaVilla-Havelin. Used with the permission of the author.

As seen on the Poet Walk at the Memorial Art Gallery, Rochester NY

 

 

 

Imaging hope to bring peace

Why

 

P is for Peace ~ the A to Z of one word messages

Peace sign
letters by Wayne Stratz
background by Margaret Almon

"Peace be with you," is the message to be sent to our enemies. I am a man of imperfections, who am I to judge. I do judge. But I also pray that those who have done the unimaginable, can find peace. Peace!

A student once asked me why I listen to jazz.  She wanted some rock.  I told her I was no longer an angry young man, well here is one for that young man, who was on fire in his teens and 20's ... 

As I walk on through this wicked world, 

Searching for light in the darkness of insanity, 

I ask myself, Is all hope lost? 

Is there only pain, and hatred, and misery  

Nick Lowe

Peace be with you

In John Jesus appears in the locked room and before he gives the disciples their charge he says...

Peace Be With You.

and he says...

Peace Be With You.

these spiritual exercises are in everyday life...

Horticulture has seasons and I have emerged suddenly into the hectic pace of April. Things do get busier in March, but all of a sudden there was so much to do.

There may be some ways I give back my gift of being alive, and one is by having accepted the challenge of teaching special education. It works best when I carry that Peace, a full peace that goes beyond my understanding with me to my classroom.

It gets lost at times when I am feeling overwhelmed with trying to get everything done.

My students have performed well this week. The garden will be planted. It can be joyful. I can't make that a certainty, but by bringing peace, I can improve the odds. Oh yes, that charge given by Jesus... forgive.

shalom

passing peace

"Peace be with you." I love saying those words. Yesterday I had a craving to hear those words as folk, who walk the church, came by offering their hands and peace. I am still during this time of worship. I shake hands with those close by, then stand and wait for those who move about the sanctuary. I had risen Sunday morning to thoughts of what happened on Thursday, had an intense time with the spiritual exercises, and an honest conversation with M.

So there I was in church with folk saying, "Peace be with you." How glad I am that I was in the present moment and realizing what a great gift I was receiving. I love these words, but repetition week after week has made it into more of a Hello, than a deep desire for the other to experience the peace of the Lord. I came home typed up some thoughts about the issue at work, shared them with Margaret, and felt that peace. Things need to be done at work, but I felt confident that I would act. I did little ruminating for the rest of the day.

So may not only peace be with you, but also joy, hope, and love.

I wrote these words Monday morning, what I did not mention is that Friday afternoon I saw another student in emotional crisis. As I walked up the hill from the parking lot this morning I heard trouble had come in threes. Our afternoon staff meeting's agenda was scrapped and we talked about what went wrong over the last several days. Truth be told I love my students and have lots of fun with them. Today we ripped out annuals, hung rosemary, sage and parsley to dry, took stem cuttings of thyme, potted up some rosemary which had spent the summer outside.... and in the morning my anatomy class pondered what life would be if we had a skeleton made out of putty or steel. All this was done with laughter and joy, and nearly without incident. There is peace in this troubled world.