(ahem) amen

"Out of panic and ideology, President Bush squandered America’s position of moral and political leadership, swept aside international institutions and treaties, sullied America’s global image, and trampled on the constitutional pillars that have supported our democracy through the most terrifying and challenging times. These policies have fed the world’s anger and alienation and have not made any of us safer. "

Preach on, NYT editorial board. I'm looking forward to November 2008.

A New Year's prayer for peace

In the midst of our lead-up to New Year's Eve tonight, I ask you all to pray with me. My friends in Kenya are undergoing a tumultuous time in the wake of this past week's Presidential election.

The situation is this: the incumbent leader, Mwai Kibaki, was just declared the winner and the opposition asserts that the election was rigged. At the core of this conflict is Kenya's divisive problem with tribalism (long standing discrimination and frustration based on the power of certain tribes from throughout the nation). Reports of more than 100 dead and riots continuing grieves my heart.

The history of Kenya's tribal conflicts and political independence is murky and complex to understand or explain. I know so very little. I do know that I believe that there is no excuse for violence. None.

Let me be clear: the Kenyan people I know are peaceful, loving citizens that might be caught up in the midst of this - especially our friends in Kibera, an incredibly tribally divided slum where much violence is being reported.

Today, please help me pray for Salim and all the people at Carolinas for Kibera. Also for Gloria, Kwame, Nelson, Kim, Emmanuel, Juliana, Mary, Mercy, Kevin, Shiro, Mama Helen, Pamela, and any other people that the travelers of Soulfari Kenya have met. May they be safe and healthy and supportive to those around them who are caught in the midst of this.

If you're interested in learning more about this from a Kenyan perspective, please take some time to read an article about it today.

Please offer up your own good wishes or prayers that the violence stops and the country might come together. It is unsure whether the elections were in fact rigged (as dissidents report), and I pray that the right leader will be identified and allowed to come to power.

Lunchtime struttin'

I had lunch with myself today. We went out for soup and some quiet and I found myself back in lovelovelove with Anne Lamott all over again.

Even when I was a kid books could make me happy faster than just about anything. As an adult I think kisses might work better, but prose like this gives me the same sort of warm feeling:

“…I had decided that I was going to take my thighs and butt with me proudly wherever I went. I decided, in fact, on the way to the beach that I would treat them as if they were beloved elderly aunties, the kind who did embarrassing thing at the beach like roll their stockings into tubes around their ankles, but whom I was proud of because they were so great in every real and important way.” from Traveling Mercies

So me and my aunties strutted out to the car and back to work. Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.

Breathe peace

The last 2 years I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy a quiet December calendar. There was space to relax. There were few obligations or presents to buy. There was a quiet peace to prepare for Christmas and to renew myself before the new year arrived.

In its place, a packed calendar has sprung up and I’ve been lamenting the busyness of this year.

This morning I had some time to think and it struck me that I am cursing good things that have sprung up since last year. This December has been full of gatherings with friends, family in town, work meetings for a new job that I’m blessed by, volunteer work I’m passionate about, and holiday time with a boyfriend I love.

That’s enough to fill a calendar.

Still, I don’t want to vanish away to a frazzled mess in the middle of all this blessing, so I’m hoping to making this next week more intentionally quiet and reflective. These are just the first seeds of musing, so I’m reticent to pin down what that looks like, but I wanted to share my feelings because I think a few of you might be feeling the same way.

And so, that leads to this wish for myself and all of my friends and family and readers:

I pray that you would know peace in the next week leading up to Christmas. Whether it’s a stolen lunch for just yourself and your thoughts, a quiet time to pray or meditate, or the gift of grace for all the things you’ll leave undone this week, I pray that you all would see the space around you and not feel strangled.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
"May those who love you be secure.

May there be peace within your walls
and security within your citadels."

For the sake of my brothers and friends,
I will say, "Peace be within you."

For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek your prosperity.

Psalm 122:6-9

May you breathe peace in and pass it around.

the triumphant holiday return of miscellaneous opining

Huzzah!

Friends, blogreaders, countrymen, this place has been quiet. As such, I give you the following updates:

Last week I had one mucus-tastic sinus infection. My throat-swollen, headachy self looked to a helpful, loving doctor to restore my good health. As said doctor looks into my throat, she says, "mmm...that's bad." Always good to know. She went on to prescribe uncoated horse pills that must have gotten switched en route to the vet in an evil display of FedEx delivery person trickery. Like the 8-year-old that I am, I've been diligently cutting them in half and have returned to work this week, pills in tow, looking (and feeling) more like a normal person.

I went to see No Country for Old Men on Sunday and it was stellar, confusing, haunting, irritating and beautiful all in one little bundle. Two days later, I'm still puzzling my puzzler about certain plot gaps and starts, wondering what I missed. Best part of this movie: it messes with you. Worst part of this movie: it messes with you.

I feel like a certified grown-up this year. Perhaps it's the love-driven impulse to buy Christmas trinkets for my manfriend, but I've got almost everything bought. I also did most of it online. (I'll pause for you to shake your head.) Seriously, where have I been? I'm used to braving the huddled masses of frenzied soccer Moms during the last week of December, but have found (perhaps inevitably) that comparison shopping online for African trinkets is so much easier than hunting them down.

Also on the Christmas note, it appears that the gals group is doing a gift exchange this year. In light of all this icky shopping excess, it feels good to know that we're trying to step back. We will have a celebrating of biblical proportions in its wake with singing, feasting and merriment to boot.

That's right. Merriment.

Continuing with Christmas cheer, the man and I are putting up a Christmas tree at his place this evening, and I will think of you all with fondness in my heart and wine in my belly as I hang the coordinating blue and silver ornament balls.

I said something about merriment, people.

XOXO and Ho-Ho-Ho,
A-gator