Peace: May we?

The artwork you see above is by Ruth Gendler. She is an artist, poet, author and teacher based in Berkeley, California. Because of a review I wrote of her book Notes on the Need for Beauty: An Intimate Look at Essential Quality in these pages, we have been in touch. At the end of November, she sent me the poem/prayer you may savor below. I cried when I read it.

Peace Prayer

Teach us to love the beauty of the small finely fringed green leaves and the giant eared large leaves of the rain forest Teach us to tend the tiny flames at the fingers of our leaf-shaped palms and the hearts' fires and the stars' fires May we stand next to each other in the bright light of peace

Wash our eyes with tears of understanding Rinse our vision so we see each other as beautiful as wildflowers, as mysterious as messengers from the stars May we taste the honey of peace

May the angel of love whisper in the ear of every angry one May we dance the dance of forgiveness May each soul sing its true song May the music of our souls become an orchestra of peace

May the grandmother of peace massage your tired shoulders May the grandfather of peace walk in your neighborhood May the children of peace laugh at your jokes May the uncle of peace tickle your funny bone

May your body be a neon sign of love and peace and beauty May you know each body as a cell in the body of god Teach us to honor the honey of human religion without eating the poison of spiritual pride Teach us to pray in each other's languages

May the aunts of peace weave you bright shawls May the birds of peace sing you awake May the architects of peace rebuild your dreams May the moon of peace shine in our windows May the sun of peace give us the courage to shine

May the grammar of peace replace the syntax of revenge And the lungs of the planet be healthy and moist May each soul bring its light to the circle of lights

Ruth closed an email to me with the words below that I want simply to echo back to you as a thanks for 2008, and a gentle reminder for 2009,

“Thanks for your inspiration and your attention to PEACE at this time when there is so much attention to FEAR.”

I just heard the words of a favorite Christmas carol in a new way today. From “Do You Hear What I Hear?” . . . pray for peace, people everywhere.

Peace, sweet peace to and for us all.

Visit Susan Corso’s spiritual blog or subscribe to Seeds at www.susancorso.com.