Month: December 2022

DECEMBER 3: OUR MONTH TO BE THE PEACE WE WISH FOR by Colleen Keating  

colleen General, Poetry , , , ,

FRIDAY 3rd DECEMBER

Watching the lilies open slowly  for the next few December mornings  reminds me peace is always becoming

Day 3  Peace is a day-to-day problem, the product of a multitude of events and judgement.

Peace is not an ‘is’ it is a ‘becoming’

Hale Selassie

while doing a grocery shop  

you suggested buying flowers

i chose the day lilies 

long slender stems tightly budded

their colour yet to be revealed

a navy blue vase

the last gift from my mother  

i arranged them  

to await the first peep of colour

they would open as they chose

we patiently watered  waited

worked and dined 

at the table with them

the buds stirred  

blossomed   each a surprise

some yellow  some white

lightly speckled petals

every time i noticed them 

they made me smile

you suggested buying flowers –

that has doubled the pleasure

Colleen Keating  from my upcoming book ‘The Light Gets In‘ to be published early 2024

Photos  taken in the last lockdown as I followed each bud open and found gratitude singing in me.

DECEMBER 2: OUR MONTH TO BE THE PEACE WE WISH FOR by Colleen Keating  

colleen Poetry , ,

FRIDAY 2nd DECEMBER

Lovely drive out to Swains Garden Centre to buy a few plants including a new Peace Lily.  Returned home to do some gardening. Photo is one of some of our plantings today. Lettuce, Endives, hopefully ready in Christmas week.   

Day 2   To be at peace with the world, we must come to see the world differently.

Working in the garden, being in nature, is one way to see the world differently.  The white butterflies and bees flirting around the Petunias, the tiny buds on the Kangaroo Paws, the curly greens of the parsley and the wonderful aroma of the lemon balm, the simplicity of each bud on the Peace Lily brings us to that inner place of centring   . . . of being from where peace comes  . . . 

DECEMBER 1: OUR MONTH TO BE THE PEACE WE WISH FOR by Colleen Keating

colleen General, Poetry , ,

THURSDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2022

Welcome to the first day of summer .  
Our month to remind ourselves  PEACE  is our way.

This morning our Mary McKillop Rose  welcomed me and I hope it fills you with December joy.

Day 1  Peace is not an event; it is a state of mind and an attitude of soul. 

We have farewelled Novemeber and spring and have stepped into a new season here in the southern hemisphere, the last month of 2022 and perhaps this day many of us have taken a deep breath as we contemplate all that December will hold. No doubt  we will all be hearing a count down of days for Christmas to arrive. It can make the month feel shorter.   It is a month to contemplate peace even more than usual with the story of Bethlehem as a tiny breath of hope breathes in the starry darkness  of night

I always tell friends make everyday of your birthday month special in some way  . .just aware of being alive, is enough  or treat yourself in taking time to enjoy even a moment of beauty.