Dona Nobis Pacem on Christmas Eve, 2007

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. LUKE 2:13:14

When I read on Mimi's site that anyone who wanted to post a peace globe this Christmas eve should feel free to, I immediately had the idea of using a painting my Dad did of the angels waiting to troop in for the lessons and carols service at the Church where my Dad was the Rector. Although he painted the angels in color, I decided it worked better for the globe if I converted the globe and painting to black and white. I thought that I'd put peace on earth good will to all as the text on the peace globe, vaguely associating that with Christmas eve. I'll admit that I'm a bit foggy brained at this point in my life, and I'm also not a church goer, so I forget the exact words although some fragments are part of my permanent memory. The crazy thing was that after I made my peace globe, I decided to look at one of the Christmas cards I still have which were made using my father's painting as the cover artwork. The title of the painting is "Angels in Waiting" and on the inside of the cards is the full passage of what I put under my peace globe. I had no recollection of that passage being inside the Christmas cards, but I instinctively put my version on the peace globe. That was odd indeed.

The photograph above is of my father and a family friend who was also one of his parishioners, her son was the photographer who took the picture and gave it to my father. The photograph was taken fairly near the end of my father's life and is one I treasure.

The proceeds from the "Angels in Waiting" cards were donated to, FIGS, a group which provided "food, clothing, shelter, heat and medical supplies" to those in need in the area where I grew up and still live. A theme which cropped up on several of the November peace globes I visited was that until people are not impoverished or oppressed, there will be no true peace. There are some great quotes that make that point better than I can. I also think for true peace, the people of the world have to find ways to celebrate both their differences and their commonality whether it be religion, culture, gender, or race. One of the many aspects of my father's work as a minister that I admired was that he worked with people from a variety of faiths, as well as people without any religious affiliation, for organizations helping those in need. I don't begin to have the answers for what it will take to find a true peace in the world but I believe the road will have to include people realizing that we have to work together and not use our different faiths or cultures as barriers which separate us. Those are the thoughts which keep coming back to me on this Christmas eve of 2007.

My father and my daughter dancing around 1991

There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace.
-- Kofi Annan

I want to thank Mimi for coming up with the peace globe idea. You hear so much about the negative aspects of the internet that it's refreshing to see positive ideas, like the bloggers for peace, crop up. At the bottom of this post are links to technorati sites which have the various peace globe bloggers posts. You can also click on Mimi's name to see her site. I don't have the answers, but I think it's good to focus positive energy outward. May the days you honor, whatever they may be, be blessed with peace and joy. Merry Christmas to those of you who celebrate Christmas. Would that all days were blessed and hopeful, with a touch of magic thrown in for good measure. I'll admit that there's a child's side of me that likes the lights and dazzle and magic of Christmas. I am very fortunate to have the luxury of such times and days.

Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.
-- Hafsat Abiola

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