Spreading the Peace & Love

Day 213 of Photo Inspirations -- Spreading the Peace & Love
When my Alexia Wallace​ comes to visit, we are intentional with crafts and creativity.  She is the right-brained artistic one in the family.  I love watching her -- so patient in putting together a masterpiece.  This little puppy is a simple paint-by-number painting she did on Sunday, and she didn't stop until it was finished.

Then she and her friend, Canaan Cooper, took me back in time as they tie-dyed shirts.  Tie-dye is just a modern term that was invented in the mid-1960s in the U.S. I found out that the process of tie-dye typically consists of folding, twisting, pleating, or crumpling fabric or a garment and binding it with string or rubber bands, followed by the application of dye(s).    Ours was from a simple kit from Michael's, and the shirts are some from my closet.  Their creativity resulted in these "throw-back" t-shirts.

I didn't realize it was such a simple process -- I never pursued the art, but I well remembered the hippies that wore them in the 60s.  Tie-dyeing was especially popular with those who opposed the Vietnam War.  The young people of the 60s rebelled against the conservative rules of dress and appearance that had influenced their parents' generation, and many began to appreciate a movement that valued arts and crafts, simplicity, and traditional ways of making things. Tie-dye was a natural outgrowth of those values, combining personal creativity and bright designs to create low-cost clothing. Tie-dye had its roots in Indian and Japanese culture.

 I remember that culture of anti-war and pro-peace.  I remember the Flower Children (those who distributed flowers or floral-themed decorations to symbolize ideals of peace).

There were a lot of anti-war demonstrations in those days.  I remember Mother Teresa saying, “I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there.” I love that.  Pro-Peace.  That's me.  I'm Pro-Peace.  Pro-Love.  Pro-Kindness.  Pro-Joy.

This little "tie-dye" experience took me back in time, but this post takes me to living TODAY, each DAY as an advocate and campaigner for PEACE.  I want to be like Mother Teresa -- I don't want to be in alignment with those who are angry and bitter and anti-this or anti-that.  But bring on the PRO-Peace and all the other ways that make for NICE.  In a world where there so much hatred and adversarial propaganda and ugliness to each other, isn't it time for us to, rather than Flower Children, become PEACE Children?  Let's be singing:  "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin in me.

Just LOVE

Day 175 of Photo Inspirations -- JUST LOVE
My grandfather was an "Old Time Gospel" Baptist Preacher. He could preach "hail, fire and brimstone" with the best of them. And, my precious polar-opposite grandmother would temper his words by saying, "JUST LOVE".

God is LOVE!  The greatest example of that LOVE was Jesus Christ. The woman caught in the act of adultery -- He loved her to repentence; Zacchaeus, the Tax Collector -- He loved him to salvation; the Naughty Samaritan Woman at the well -- He loved her to her becoming an Evangelist; Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted thousands of Christians -- He loved him to becoming an Evangelist and the writer of 2/3's of the New Testament.

During the Vietnam War, Mother Teresa was asked, "Will you march with us in protest of the war?" She calmly replied, "No, but when you have a march for peace, I'll be there."   I love that.

It's a complete drain of energy to be against something -- but to be FOR something actually increases our enthusiasm and energy. Let's be FOR peace, harmony, justice and every good thing. We don’t try to get rid of the cold in our house; we simply turn on the heat. We can't fight the darkness that may fill a room; we just turn on the light.

How can we LOVE when there is so much wrong in the world?   Grace.  God treats us -- not with what we deserve,  but He treats us with loving-kindness and mercy.  GOD IS LOVE -- and that means He is good to those who deserve it as well as to those who don't deserve it. His love embraces saints AND sinners. Doesn't it make sense that our love for others should be marked by the same kindness and mercy that God has given us?

How can we possibly love those who are just plain evil? With the response that He had for Saul and Zaccheas and the thief on the cross. "WITH GOD, all things are possible." Matthew 19:26.  In our own strength, it will be impossible, but in His strength and in His love, our hurts, fears and prejudices can be conquered.  Only the cross of Jesus Christ can free us from the cruelty of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment.  His cross give us the courage to return evil with good.

We have a choice. To be a protester or a peacemaker; to be a hater or a lover; to be angry or joyful; to be a finger pointer or a forgiver.

"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good."  Romans 12:21
In the words of my sweet grandmother....."JUST LOVE!"