Peace

as fearful people

attempt to silence

innocent citizens

into compliance

to their dominance

and complete control

through ballistic bombs

and oppressive orders

that not only

destroy cities

and psyches

but countries

and lives

may we awaken

to deeper Silence

and the Presence

of the Peace

that transcends

all we comprehend

(and the confusion

that leads people

to the conclusion

that the way

to counteract it

is by enacting

fearful violence)

to guard hearts

and open minds

and protect innocents

and embrace all

People of all

genders and identities

races and nationalities

to transform

chaos into Creativity

combat into Civility

discrimination into Dignity

sordid shelling

into Sacred Solidarity

belligerent bombing

into Beloved Community

before it all

implodes and explodes

leaving no trace

of Glorious Grace

and no trail

but tragic travail

may Peace prevail

on Earth

as it is

in Heaven

and Beyond

the Realm

of Limitless Love

here Below

as Above

and as We

pray for It

may We

display It

for all

to see

let It Be

and let It

begin with me...

Amen.

#Epiphany2022 #PeaceAndProtectionForUkraine #NoMoreWar #EqualityAndProtectionForTransgenderedBelovedsAndTheirFamilies #NoMoreLGBTQI+Discrimination 

('May Peace Prevail on Earth' © Hailey Stepler)