Peace of Mind… (blog)

As I awakened this morning and oozed into my day with a cup of coffee, I was feeling grateful for the chance to quietly make my way into what I planned on being a day of rest and rejuvenation.

As I do most mornings, I checked the news to see if there was anything of note happening. And of course, the leading story was about the situation unfolding in Charlottesville, VA. I began looking for any information I could find, feeling a sense of disbelief and helplessness as well as an urge to be of some help to someone, somehow.

Although I ultimately turned away from the news to be in my day, I found myself with a heavy heart many times. Each time I noticed it, I closed my eyes, breathed deeply and invited healing in. Healing for the families of the people killed. Healing for the injured. Healing for the community of Charlottesville.

I hold that nonviolence, inclusive dialogue and justice for all people are the basic components necessary to find something we can align with one another on. While I may not be in Virginia right now, I can  practice these principles in my life, knowing that by doing so, I am counteracting violence, hatred and inequality one moment at a time.

As we Walked today, I found myself appreciating my friend, Miriam Linderman. Miriam and I met about three years ago when she and Donald Dawson (yesterday’s post) were assisting for a leadership program I was attending. Right away, I felt a kindred spirit with Miriam that continues today. The ability to see people with compassion and to  speak to the good in others are traits I admire in Miriam. Another thing that I appreciate about Miriam is the way she supports people in their lives; championing their efforts and sharing her experience freely. Thank you, Miriam, for all that you are.

The time I’ve spent in Vancouver has been both connective and contemplative for me. I am aware of the keen interest in the politics of the United States, which contrasts starkly with the time spent on the politics of this nation. And…I would be remiss if I didn’t speak to the exchange between the United States and North Korea today, and yet I find myself at a loss for words. I am deeply troubled by the rhetoric being exchanged by President Trump and Kim Jong-un. This kind of language is unprecedented, and I pray that the words don’t provoke the action being threatened by either country.

As I prepare to leave Canada and re-enter the United States tomorrow, I will hold the energy of Peace among nations and around the world. Please, won’t you join me?

 

During the time I’ve been in Vancouver, one of my hosts has been Donald Dawson. Donald and his partner Miriam Linderman have Walked for Peace with me in many different parts of the city. Today we started by going to see Donald’s workspace. Donald is a metal fabricator and blacksmith, and I was thrilled to see the place where he creates his work. One of the things that is unique about Donald’s work is that he can do everything from large, commercial use items forged from steel to small, intricately designed decorative items for the home. I also noticed as Donald shared his studio and work with me that he is truly passionate about it, and that the feeling is contagious.

Next, we went to a part of East Vancouver called “the Drive”. It’s an eight to ten block section of the city that is comprised of eateries and shops representing the rich, diverse culture of the people who live here. The smells of different foods, the sounds of particular accents and even the change in trinkets for sale in store window displays caused me to think about the true gift that diversity brings and how much more expansive our life experience can be when we invite it in rather than shy away from it.

Finally, we took a tour of Stanley Park. The park was absolutely overflowing with people walking, bicycle riding, picnicking and sightseeing. The park is surrounded by a sea wall, and the water was full of activity from sailing to tugboats moving barges. I found myself happy to see so many people outside enjoying the day (a civic holiday in Canada) even though the sky is still thick with smoke from fires in the interior of British Columbia.

The day was graced by the sharing of one’s craft between friends, to the melding of a community rich in its differences, to the harmonious co-existence of relative strangers in nature. A day of Peace, for sure.

Today, Miriam, Donald and I Walked together through a different part of Vancouver. I had read an article about a housing project that the city of Vancouver had built that I was interested in, so we incorporated it into our Walk.

The reason I felt the project was important to see, is because it is one way that Vancouver is working to help provide temporary housing for homeless and displaced individuals.

When we arrived at the building, we saw a gentleman (Bill) sitting outside at a table, enjoying a cup of coffee. I approached him and immediately he noticed my t-shirt. I explained the Walk, and asked if I could join him for a bit. He graciously agreed, and for the next half an hour, the four of us had a conversation about the shortage of available housing, and this project specifically.

There are forty units in this building, each about 250 square feet with a kitchen and a bath. The buildings are made off site, shipped to the location and assembled in just a few days. Bill indicated that the walls are built with soundproofing in between them, so the units are quiet and comfortable.

In Bill’s case, the building he had been in burned down, and he was able to be placed in one of the modular units until his new apartment is rebuilt.

This particular set of tiny homes is scheduled to be on its current site for five years. Because of their unique design, the entire structure can be moved to another location if the need arises. That means that if the city needs the land the homes are on, the residents would need to move, but they would not be put out onto the street.

As we spoke with Bill, I had the feeling that he was happy in spite of the misfortune of being forced from his home because of a fire. I felt as if he could have been the spokesperson for these  homes. Although Bill didn’t have much, he said he was happy in his place, and that he felt fortunate to have a place to be.

For this Peace Walker, this is a prime example of ways to help people in times that are particularly difficult. It is an innovative, collaborative approach to assisting an ever expanding circle of people who might otherwise be on the streets.

Thank you, Vancouver for your example of how to help our fellow human beings find dignity, respect and perhaps a little Peace.

Today was day 500 on the Walk for Peace. As my host and friend Miriam Linderman and I researched some of the Peace related organizations and events in the area, we found a park not far from our starting point that is called the Seaforth Peace Park. We made the decision to go to the park, and the photograph above is of a bronze statue that stands at one end of the park.

The statue is of a sixteen year old nurse named Kinuko Laskey, who survived the Hiroshima bombing. She moved to Vancouver in 1954 and remained silent about her experience until 1982 when she broke her silence and began her life’s work as a Peace educator and activist.

The park also had a post with the same quote as the one in Seattle I shared about recently – “May Peace prevail in our homes and Communities”.

Further into the park is a monument donated by the first Latin American community to settle in Vancouver, in gratitude to Canada for providing a place where there is a chance to give their children and families a better future. The monument holds a time capsule which chronicles the Latin American community. It will be opened in 2062  (50 years after being placed in the monument), and displayed thereafter at British Columbia’ history museum.

There is a fountain memorial honoring the victims of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima. The memorial has a water-filled (no water today) bronze cauldron on a granite base with an eternal flame (no flame today).

Also, there is a Peace grove of twelve Katsura trees, planted by students at the time of the dedication of the park.

The park was a reminder to me of the way a community can come together snd create something that honors Peace; evolving with time and attention, acting as an outward sign of healing and reconciliation.

Early this morning, I said goodbye to Brenda, my host for the past three nights. Brenda and my younger sister, Dita have been the best of friends since they were toddlers, and as such, we have been friends for a long time. I actually didn’t have any plans to go to Guemes Island, but when Brenda reached out and invited me, I said yes.

As we discussed families, Redlands (the town where we grew up), aging, health and other things, I was aware of the underlying familiarity of being in the company of someone I’ve known for so many years, and I was grateful for it. And, at the same time, I was aware of the newness of sitting with a friend, noticing our changing bodies, comparing notes on lives lived so far and how very different our experiences have been.

Brenda has a lovely voice, a memory as detailed as a library card catalog, a wit that will drop you to the floor in hysterics and a compassion for animals as deep and wide as the ocean. She’s also an artist.

Sometimes, we get caught up in the business of getting things done, and forget to simply be in particular moment. In the rush to accomplish things, it is easy to put off calling a friend or connecting with someone we “used to know”, and sometimes, we end up missing the opportunity all together.

I believe part of how we will find Peace is by slowing down and taking the time to connect. Being with others as part of our daily routine will help to re-connect us at a visceral level rather than substituting a “tech connect”, which isn’t actually palpable at all.

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the island, your home and yourself so openly with me. I had a lovely time.

As I get ready to complete the day here on Guemes Island in Washington, I am feeling particularly grateful for the kindness of the people in the veterinarian’s office my friend Brenda and I took Chandler to this afternoon.

The office had an incredible energy about it, and although the waiting room was one of the smallest I’ve been in, there was a feeling of spaciousness. At one point, there were two labs, three chihuahuas, one Newfoundland, one Portuguese Water Dog, Chandler and a cat on his owner’s lap with only the benefit of a leash (no carrier). Add to that three staff people, nine pet owners and/or their friends and a small swamp cooler humming steadily, and one might think it would be a place to avoid.

Quite the contrary. What I felt when we arrived was a kindness among strangers. Not just among the humans, but between the animals, as well. The staff was calm, efficient and present to each of the interactions they engaged in. People conversed with ease; almost as if they were enjoying a visit in the park with one another. And the animals quietly rested as they awaited their turn with a vet. There was no barking, no pulling at leashes, no impatience. The vet who saw Chandler was soft spoken, and reassuring. She worked with a thoroughness that belied the number of patients still to be seen before the close of business.

As we rode the ferry back to the island, the beauty of the day surrounded us, and I found myself grateful for having had the experience of Peace in action.

In all honesty, both Chandler and I are too pooped to post! More tomorrow from the Walk for Peace.

 

For the past several days, I have had the great pleasure of being hosted by Johan and Kathy. Kathy and my mom have been friends for many years, and when mom reached out to Kathy about hosting, she and Johan said yes. As it turned out, Chandler and I stayed for several nights, setting out each morning to Walk in a different part of Seattle, and returning each evening to a lovely supper with Kathy, Johan, Kathy’s mother (Vyrel, 91)  and father (Frank, 95).

Each evening befor the meal, we said grace and mentioned something we were grateful for and we sat together without electronic gadgets, enjoying each other’s company.

Chandler figured out very quickly that Frank always had a hand ready to scratch or pet her, and enjoyed extra attention from him as often as she could get it. This included finding a place on his lap (with his blessing, of course) each evening for a little television.

What I noticed about my time with these four was a remarkable sense of Peace. They all share space, and even so, there is autonomy, respect, privacy, inclusion and love present in their communication and interactions with each other.

As I said my goodbyes and headed out, I couldn’t help but feel I’m just a little bit more at Peace for having lived time with these four lovely people.

In a busy part of downtown Seattle, I walked up to people on the steps (in this picture), and I began asking them if they would draw a card from the 1conversation for Peace deck I was holding. This was a different approach than I’d taken before, and it was met with varied responses. Some of the folks seemed annoyed by being pulled away from their “screens”, but without exception, every one of them drew a card. Other people took the cards and put them in their wallets or shirt pockets after reading the question. And, a few folks actually came up to me and asked what they were and if they could draw one.

There’s no way to know what folks chose to do with the cards, but for the moments I was on the steps passing them out, there was a focus on Peace that hadn’t been there before.

It’s not unusual for me to approach people in an effort to have a conversation about Peace, however, late this afternoon the conversation came to me.

After spending quite some time in REI looking at duffle bags (long story), I was in the shoe section trying on different cross trainers, and I mentioned to the woman who was helping me, that Chandler and I are Walking for Peace. She was very enthusiastic, sharing that she bicycles long distances, and asking a few questions about the logistics of the Walk.

A few moments later, another employee came up to me and asked about the Walk (her co-worker had mentioned it). I invited her to pull a card, passing it forward when she is ready. She asked if there was any way to get ahold of me,  ecause she would like to connect with “people like me”. I gave her my card  and mentioned that I would be happy to have a conversation about Peace with her any time she wanted.

Again, I have no way of knowing what she will do with the card, but we did get to spend a few minutes sharing with one another and filling the space with Peace.