In this season of turning;
May each seed sown grow into a mighty oak,
branches opened wide, a gesture of compassion, roots descending deep anchoring
kindness in the soil of every heart, guardians of peace, messengers of love.
Let war become a nightmare long forgotten, generosity, humility, respect the
reality we expect, accept and know.
It is a lot to ask in a world habitually accustomed to spilling
the blood of the “other,” pretzel logic reasoning; bombs will protect our own
here, and somehow on far away shores, those we feel akin to, distant cousins. Aren’t
we all at the core sisters and brothers, sharing genetic memory across every
populated continent? I don’t like to get political, assume that everyone agrees
with me, I know some will, many won’t. But I have a voice and though I often
choose silence, rather than risk making a stir, causing discomfort, anger or
contention, I feel obligated by my conscience dwelling in the midst of the Days of Awe, Yom Kippur just six days away to say: there just has to be
another way! Violence to end violence does not work, history teaches us this,
and even if military action dims certain flames briefly, the ashes will continue
to smolder. I do not know the answer to this eternal human puzzle, yet this
question continues to knock on the door of my heart: how can we be present as
ambassadors of peace, of hope, of healing, take wise action without increasing suffering?
I pray that world leaders will seek answers from this same place in their own
hearts, and listen to the good counsel of kindness within.
AND NOW...
Welcome to our Sixteenth Week of I Heart Macro
"Pure awareness transcends thinking... It allows you to look at the world once again with open eyes. And when you do so, a sense of wonder and quiet contentment begins to reappear in your life."~Mark Williams and Danny Pennman, from Mindfulness An Eight-
It is time for YOU to share the love up-close with YOUR
I Heart Macro offerings!
Beautiful, Laura. Count me among those that agree with you wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and thoughtful words ;)
ReplyDelete...quiet blessings to thee dear kindred...(O:
ReplyDeleteOh..what a wonderfull choise...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, with great datails macro shots!
ReplyDeleteI love those acorns and I agree with you. I wish you a peaceful Sunday!
ReplyDeleteVery nice Laura.
ReplyDeleteHi! Nice captures Acorn of the oak photos are very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLaura,thank you for the words and beautiful images.
ReplyDeleteI have a little oak in a pot,it's now five or six years old.Oaks take so long to mature,but with love and freedom to grow it may eventually be a fine tree.
Enjoy your week,
Ruby @ STARRY UNIVERSE
With love and freedom, may each soul walking the planet find a way to experience these blessings. Thank you Laura for your sharing your wisdom. Peace. xo Teri
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely divine photography ~ so creative seeing the sacred in the ordinary ~ carol, xo
ReplyDeleteDear Laura!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thoughtful post and beautiful pictures!
There is much to think about.
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong two each other.
Mother Teresa
Jorunn Norway
very sweet nature heart. :) i love the acorns, too.
ReplyDeleteMy ever wise friend-amen and amen!
ReplyDeleteI lift you words today as a prayer and a blessing!
great acorn macros
ReplyDeletelovely macro photos and wise words!
ReplyDeleteWonderful macro that bring us the beauty of life, precious!
ReplyDeleteVery insightful post. Beautiful photos of some of nature's delights.
ReplyDeleteWonderful words and photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing and caring. You are so right: We have to speak up, take more care of eachother, and dear to care.
ReplyDeleteI really love you pictures. Nature can be so beautiful up close :)
Thank you for sharing this macro shots. They looks so beautiful! What type of camera did you use for this?
ReplyDeleteI especially love the might little acorns.
ReplyDelete((hugs))
Beautifully expressed, Laura. "how can we be present as ambassadors of peace, of hope, of healing, take wise action without increasing suffering?" I ponder and pray on these questions daily. Maybe in our power of collective prayer we will find answers. I do metta loving kindness mediation daily, offering peace and love to all beings. If we all conducted such prayers, really felt that love-sharing daily, maybe... maybe the world wouldn't feel so torn apart. ((HUGS))
ReplyDeleteLOVE your heart shaped leaf and your acorns!!!
ReplyDeleteCool Pic Laura. Love it! Have a good time and thank you for hosting ;D
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the acorns.
ReplyDeletebeautiful post. our bombing the poor, brown people on the other side of the world is not only morally indefensible, but it also make us less secure. wonderful shots...
ReplyDeleteI am so with you on this, kiddo. Bombing people who have already been gassed adds to their distress and misery and would only breed more division and ill will. If any body of government takes action, it should be the UN platform trying to resolve things, not one or another countries. Sigh. Weary of war, indeed. It is no solution.
ReplyDeletePraying for peace, looking forward to 1000 years of it when Moshiach reigns in Jerusalem. I like your sun with the ring of gold around it, and the detailed acorns.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the wonderful acorns and for hosting, especially when you're so busy this time of year.
ReplyDeleteif only war could become a memory long forgotten...that would surely be my prayer as well....
ReplyDeletecould that war be just a memory...that would be the prayer for me as well...smiles...
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for stopping by - love yr blog & meme!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Violence breeds Violence. It's a vicious game and it never stops. I would rather be killed, then kill! I taught my son to walk away from a fight every time, no matter what people think of him, whether that makes him a coward to others, what they think is irrelevant, you walk away, every time. He agreed up to a point he said he would never allow someone he loves or friend or even a stranger being beaten by whole gang without trying to help or protect the person. Protect when you can walk away when you can't.
ReplyDeleteIi had a macro and forgot to post it!!! I will do so next Monday. I agree- two wrongs, etc. FIRST exhaust all avenues, of course. But sometimes, protection means defense. It is the aggression we must stay away from.
ReplyDeletei agree - violence can never be an answer to violence...praying for wisdom for them as well...
ReplyDeleteI do definitely share your desire for peace Beautiful photographs again as always.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I agree the violence has to end. Your photos are lovely, the first heart is beautiful. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and meaning ~ I am cheering and praying for peace ~
ReplyDeleteViolence begets violence! And the weak and innocents suffer. Hopefully Syria will not be another Iraq! Great pics Laura!
ReplyDeleteHank
I applaud your words, I love your photos, and approve your message. The answer is love never hate, the answer is to apply reason not to add to the insanity of it all. Well done.
ReplyDeleteOh this is so well written. Just what I needed to hear this evening. I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the terrible news about Syria lately..not to mention everywhere else. It's hard to know who is right and who is wrong...but it doesn't really matter. Let's just stop killing each other.
ReplyDeleteI always love your images... And yes, let us hope that we can find a way to avoid more violence.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you helped calm me about the whole mess this week. Ironic, so close to Rosh Hashana, I was afraid the entire Holy Land was going to get blown up.
ReplyDeleteI'm outspoken about politics and pacifism, so I was with you all the way. War is never the answer - but look who is asking the questions... Powers That Be, so far from Main Street, they don't even remember they once lived there. Great thoughts, and thanks for those hopeful little acorns! Amy
What a great post laura, and very courageous to speak out about how misguided the human race is at times.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing heart in nature. It's like the divine showing me his love in a tangible manner.
ReplyDeleteLaura, you express in your words and sentiments that which I have become too tired to keep repeating. At 65, I'm exhausted...with war and with unkindness.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, until the whole world is blind and toothless". Fiddler on the Roof.
Lady Nyo (Jane)
Amen.
ReplyDeleteI love the simplicity of these, Laura.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully captured.
Your words/thoughts are so very inspiring!! And your photos are superior. Well done Laura.
ReplyDeleteHow utterly lovely!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written,Laura. It boggles my mind why so many people think violence is the answer to ending violence. It just doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad when embracing non-violence can be considered political.... I hear you... Well said.... Michelle
ReplyDeletegorgeous images!
ReplyDelete