Barack, a new day, and a much needed prayer

Thanks to some thoughtful folks in my company, we got to eat lunch together and share the inauguration experience with others in corporate America. Wow -- food for the spirit and body.

The music, the poetry, the hope.... Barack's speech was inspiring. We will need such inspiration with so much to be done and undone. And while Rev. Rick Warren's prayer was actually pretty good, The Rev. Joseph Lowery's closing benediction was a beacon of shining light. We all joined in at the end with the crowd:

Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around -- (laughter) -- when yellow will be mellow -- (laughter) -- when the red man can get ahead, man -- (laughter) -- and when white will embrace what is right.

Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: Say amen --

AUDIENCE: Amen!

REV. LOWERY: -- and amen.

AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)

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Yes, much to be done -- and I have a cold brewing and would like to stay huddled up in my covers. I need some energy. Perhaps some post-inauguration coverage will spur me on and out.

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne

Peace, Compassion, and Change

While I've been posting a few little Quick TAKES, I am behind on my to-do list and on this Martin Luther King Day holiday I have an interfaith Peace Walk to go to shortly so not much more is going to be done anytime soon. 

Pictures from several peace events, even Christmas pictures, need to  be posted on Flickr. The good news is that just as Christmas happened, peace is happening, even if it isn't happening as quickly as I would want. "It is what it is." The bed will be changed. The mail will be opened. The fake tree will be de-ornamented and taken down. But people first. People need peace. We must be the peace we seek. Take a moment, please, to meditate and/or volunteer service, on MLK Day and beyond. There is a great study guide at Olive Branch Interfaith Peace Partnership which is hosting a Washington, DC MLK Day event tonight. I plan to be there in spirit. And I plan to do more. Study. Learn. Act. (And find time to do enough housework to have personal peace.) Join me. Thanks!!

Peace hugs,

Kate Anne