Where has this month gone? We are well into spring and there is sooooo much to be done: for peace, justice, and nonviolence, surely -- but also the simple stuff, like spring house cleaning. I have said, "I love choice", and I do -- but too many choices is daunting. Or perhaps I should say, too many good choices is daunting. How does one decide? So many things call to me. Hmmmmm. Must take time to meditate -- yet that means other things will not be done. Still, if that meditation leads to a better focus then one rightly benefits from that "down time", that time spent in consultation with Spirit, with the One.

It is said that when one is on path, time expands, one accomplishes much in a blink of an eye. My path is peace and justice and nonviolence -- yet I am less effective because I neglect Kate Anne for others -- especially for corporate America where I have exhausted myself this week for a job with a company which is doing wonderfully well while it cut my benefits. Something is wrong here. Why do we worker bees do this?? There is the Christian work ethic, but there is also, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME!" This week has left me drained of energy but also filled with anger at the injustice of it. I have begun to speak out at work and that is treading a dangerous path. Perhaps, rather than speech, there should be action. Give them their due, yes, but don't over-do. And find time to re-do that resumé to allow me the choice to leave, if that better suits me. "Keep your eye on the prize." Peace, justice, nonviolence belong in my personal life as well as in my work life as well as in the world. "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." So today I will go forth in peace, to get my paid work out of the way peacefully, in a just amount -- no more, with a smile on my face, then get on with the rest of my life because I have earned and deserve more. I do not need to keep giving extra when I am not even receiving my fair share. Peace, justice, nonviolence to Kate Anne -- and to YOU. May we effectively use our time for our paid work, for our peace work, AND for ourselves, please, God -- Amen.

REMEMBER:

“There is a very positive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist fighting for peace by nonviolent methods most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful. I'm not saying that activism is wrong because it isn't, it's necessary. But there needs to be more unity, not emotions, backbiting or gossip. There is no bigger law than love. Love is joy in others. What, then, is anger at them? Words of love convey the joy we have in the presence of our friends and family. It is out of the question to speak about another person in a spirit of irritation or vexation. There must never be talk, either in open remarks or by insinuation, against any brother or sister, or against their individual characteristics -- and under no circumstances behind their backs.'
-- THOMAS MERTON

[The above quotation is a favorite, half of which is especially appropriate to the above posting, yet the second half serves as an excellent reminder to be loving and peace-full in our relationships.]