On the 8th I wrote of the struggles of my kitten. I wrote of how we made the decision to allow her to seek eternal rest rather than go on, and then I updated the next day on news of her seeming to get better. She continued to improve in the days following, but this morning she passed away in her sleep. She was a wonderful companion in my life journey and in those of others. Memories flood though my mind, tears swell, and a peace is found. I wish I could have been there to hold her one last time and thank her for the joy she has brought me and others, but I am glad she passed peace, at home in a place where she was comfortable. I spent about 3/4 of my life with her in it, the majority of my life that I can remember, and now I enter the future and wonder what it will be like without my four legged friend and companion…
— Lyle IIOpening my Self
“Tomorrow I will start a new adventure, a new journey….” are the words I first thought of to start this post, and so I used them, the word that followed however was “NO!” For the truth is, I do not start a new journey, a new adventure… tomorrow. Rather I continue on a journey I have been on. As Western Christianity embarks upon the season of Lent, I do so with anticipation. Anticipation of what you might ask? In anticipation of that which already has come to pass, that which is, and that which will be.
— Lyle IICan we pray for peace?
Holy One of Grace and Mystery;
We come before you as a people called by you.
We lift our voices up to you, with sisters and brothers around the globe. We lift them in praise, we lift them in sorrow.
We see the struggles of fellow creation, we encounter our own, and we pause and pray.
We pray to you here in this place, here in this moment, for your guiding grace.
We pray for peace, but not the peace of this world.
We pray for true peace, for your peace, for the peace that Jesus the Christ taught, lived, proclaimed, died and rose again for. A peace that is not defined as the end of violent conflict, BUT a peace that restores, renews, heals all of your creation. A peace that brings forth true unity in diversity, a peace that truly honours the worth of all.
We pray not just for that peace, but that we may also be the agents of that peace.
We pray that we may allow your peace to empower us to repent, empower us to forgive ourselves for the pain we cause each other, creation, ourselves and you.
We pray that we may truly be empowered, truly be transformed to shine forth your glory, to share your love and peace with all who we encounter, so that all may know true peace. So that the community of peace, which the Living Christ still calls us to, may one day be reality in every place , in every moment, and not just a distant dream that glistens into being in moments here and there.
May we be open to the leadings of your Spirit, to live, to proclaim, to seek and dream of the Peace of your Son in our response to your call to us and all of your creation.
In the Holy Name of the Proclaimer of Peace we come before you,
Amen
— Lyle II