All In One Peace

So after much thought, I’m off! … like a herd of turtles, as my dad would always say!

California, Here I come!
I will add things when I can…
much love to you all!

Adding the the uneasiness of the region, latest news talks of hate killings. UN shocked by Kosovo Serb deaths -BBC While everyone keeps saying that they are “shocked,” I am not so much, unfortunately. Whereas the other other areas affected by the Wars of Yugoslav succession have had a decade of time lapsed and have some semblance of regaining order, Kosovo has had only since 1999 to start to pick up the pieces- and EU and KFOR (of the UN) have been really the ones in charge since then (although on paper it’s still technically part of Serbia).

These last 6 years have been a time of trying to heal, as well as facing an uncertain future. Talks to determine who will govern will start in December- and this tension I pray will not lead to even more violence… although I’m not too confident. I have heard of little skirmishes all over Kosovo since May when I read about a conference in Switzerland. Most people think the Swiss are neutral- but au contraire! … Swiss position on Kosovo The Swiss have many refugees from Kosovo and this has played greatly into their politics- the Swiss stand strong in pushing for a independant Kosovo…

I find this dangerous- as the talks have not even started and nations are already making positions. Haven’t they learned from history? -That Slovenia- then Croatia- broke away and started the sticky unravelling we call the Wars of Yugoslav Succession with the support of Germany and Austria… While there are many factors in why these countries broke away, people have said that without Germany and Austria’s support, it would have been much differnet- and possibly less bloody.

Although an idealist, I am real in knowing that the situation in Kosovo is tough and that no one will get their way. But compromise is still possible while we are still listening and valuing each party’s argument… I’ll be praying for you Kosovo!

you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. I love this song- although I much prefer the Nat King Cole version, you know, from those days when jazz was grand.

But this week this simple line has hit hard. I really love to serve… and listen and be there for others- or well I try, although you all know I fall short a lot. But it’s another thing to let other people love on you. That’s scary and humbling to me- I know it shouldn’t be but it has been this last week.

And this love is not just being nice- it’s so exorbanant that it’s like God himself is there loving on me. It ’s things that I know I can’t pay back- from walks and talks in the arboretum, to asking how my health is, to giving me a place to stay, to adopting me into a family. People are letting me in their life… and all I can say is thank you and praise be to God.

I have to admit that I am learning a lot at my place of work. You won’t hear me talk much about my job- I love that I can help out- even if it is answering phones and office work and not any idealist/more relational humanitarian type of work.

It can only be God that this church is still together- although the congregation is not very diverse in terms of ethnicity, there is definately diversity on the spectrums on age, politics, financial class, and values. It always amazes me how creative God is in giving us different things to care about.

And of course, I am also somewhere on these spectrums. And here at work, as well as other places, I have met people very open and people very closed to these differences. Either way, It makes me re-evaluate my own positions.

But sometimes, like today, I just freeze and get all tense when talking to people who take the moral high ground with their perspective. I’m not talking about people who are of sound and calm mind with their decisions, but those who can’t percieve anything else- as if they are more driven by fear. I know what they want is some confirmation that they are right, some recognition. Half the time I agree with their perspective, half the time not- but at this point, agreeing is a non-issue. I almost feel that I am listening to their fear- and this bothers me. And what do I do? I just stand there and shut down…. why? I shouldn’t. Perfect love casts out fear, right?

But I’m not perfect love… so I just stare…

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. - C. S. Lewis

God is good; He can’t be anything else, He’s love right!

Today, I couldn’t see anything else but his love. I got to talk wonderful people at work, and while running errands, meeting - or made appointments to meet-with more wonderful idealists. It gives me hope- Not everyone can deal with the hunger, health, the homeless, or youth locally, or be a great musician, or love the 2/3rds world- and goodness knows I can’t do half of that- but I have talked with people today who have their owns passions and are striving love on their own piece of this world through their own beautiful means. Today God’s love has not only been something I’ve seen, but it’s something that is so tangible that I can taste it!

Thank you my friends! And thank you God!

Thanks Robyn for sharing this site with me ….
Here are two worthy petitions to sign… at least in my opinion…
Here’s one about landmines… really, we do not need them… check out my links to see the information about the damage they do- killing or injuring people, ruining family support systems, the environment, local economies, etc. And what’s more, landmines shold be illegal as they are indescriminate- innocent people die- and they continue to die post-conflict which is also against the rules of war.
Landmine petition

Secondly, here is one for Dafur… It breaks my heart that another area is living in this state of chaos and fear… what’s more, the longer it is in conflict, the more pain the survivors will have to deal with in reconciliation and healing and starting over again…
Darfur
It’s a start… although there’s many more…

Mistake of My Life Lyrics By Caedmon’s all

I’m in love, never been so sure of anything
Then again, could be a tumor in my brain
Tricking me into thinking that we were meant to be
Either way, I’m about to shock my family
And my hometown
‘Cause this time I’m leaving

Once I’m gone I cannot look back
I’ve got to trust this is right
Maybe I’m on my way to find you
Maybe I’m gonna make the mistake of my life

Since we met my life’s been so up in the air
Here today but by next week I could be there
On the street struggling to support my newest vice
With a sign that says ‘I will work for love advice’

‘Cause I will mow your lawn
If you’ll tell me what I’m doing wrong

But I’ll leave the car runnin’
And I’ll leave half the boxes packed
For the slim chance I’ll go right back