The Peace Tree

Our Christmas tree this year is a little different -- a lot different, actually. The usual ornaments never even got unpacked. Instead, we put my origami peace cranes all over the branches. A few white snowflakes, too.

The crowning touch is an unusual tree topper I found last summer in Boulder -- a lighted peace sign.

As soon as we decorated the tree, my cat curled up beneath it and has been there ever since, snoozing. He feels the peace vibes!

Candidates as cranes

Here they are, red and blue, on Election Eve 2008. Which one will win tomorrow?

The one with peace in his heart.

Peace in the mountains

I went to the mountains today, and -- as always -- found such peace there. It was a perfect autumn day. At one point, when the rest of the family had gone ahead on the trail, I stopped and just listened. The creak of afternoon peepers, the rush of cold water. Sunlight reaching the forest floor in broken patterns. Green and yellow scattered across the trail, and some red, though less than in past years because of the drought.

Surrounded by trees, I could feel the collective wisdom of these noble beings. I know how "out there" that sounds, but ... it's true. They are benevolent, noble, possessors of a silent strength. I am very attracted to that. I stand among them, with reverence, and give thanks. For whatever our small thanks means to them.

Anger seems far away in a place such as this.