Pray for Ukraine - Pray for Peace

 

                                        Archangel Michael is considered the patron saint

                                          and spiritual guardian of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.

                                                              May peace prevail.

    This morning when I woke up to the news of Russia's attacks on Ukraine, I cried tears of anguish, thinking that all hopes and prayers for peace had come to naught. After wallowing in despair for awhile, I was reminded by my online friends that now is not the time to give up hope. 

    War gives us the opportunity to pray harder than ever. It's heartening to see posts popping up from all over the world, demonstrating the solidarity of the world's people of goodwill, all praying for peace. 

    Yes, most of us were praying for peace before today. We were praying that Putin would not attack, and yet he did. Some will now say that prayer is useless. Others realize that prayer is often not answered the way we want it to be, because we cannot see the whole picture. 

    The reasons for war and many and complicated, but the end result is always the same. As someone wise once said: “War does not determine who is right — only who is left.”

    More people than ever before now recognize the futility and evil of war. I am encouraged by the many prayers for peace being lifted up all over the world. Being faced with the evil of war, as we are today, even more people are raising their voices and spirits in prayer, bringing us ever closer to the Era of Peace for which most of us long. 

    Here is one of the prayers I found today, posted by Unity: 

    In this moment of emergency for Ukraine and Russia, we call ourselves to God-consciousness. We speak the word for harmony. We speak the word for order. We recognize no person, situation, or force greater than the power of God, the source of strength, wisdom, and courage.

    And here is a prayer from Marianne Williamson: 

Dear God,
Please send miracles
to the people of Ukraine.
Send angels to minister unto them.
Bring calm and peace to their frightened hearts.
Awaken in Vladimir Putin
the truth of who we are.
Soften his heart and remind him of his soul.
Please God, may there be peace.
Amen

    There are many ways to pray for peace. Choose your way. Let us pray without ceasing until peace prevails. 

myr (Ukrainian)

mir (Russian)

pax (Latin)

This icon for peace was created by a Russian designer, Natasha Alimova. 

For the Love of Birds

 

    I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy watching birds fly overhead or perch on their birdfeeders. Lots of people from all walks of life put out birdfeeders, nesting boxes, and birdbaths to invite these feathered friends into their yards. True, birds can be a nuisance. We all grumble about bird poop on our cars, and I'll never forget the time I started out on a walk, then had to run home and wash bird poop out of my hair. But those are small inconveniences compared to the joy of seeing goldfinches, nuthatches, and woodpeckers feeding from the seeds and suet we put out for them. 

    We can build bridges of oneness with birds, because people from every culture and background love them. Most of us recognize the ways that birds benefit us and the environment. Birds spread seeds, pollinate plants, and control pests. They reduce weeds and fertilize the soil. You can read more about the benefits of birds here: Benefits of Birds. 

    We should all be concerned about the decimation of the bird population. In North America alone, there are about 3 billion fewer birds than there were in 1970. Almost 1,500 bird species are threatened with extinction across the world. Over 100 species have gone extinct in recent centuries.

    There are numerous reasons for the decrease in bird species. One of the biggest reasons is loss of habitat. Habitat loss occurs when land is converted for agriculture, development, resource extraction, and other uses. We can create habitat for birds in our own yards by reducing our lawns and planting the native trees, shrubs, and plants that provide the berries, insects, and pollen that birds need. Bird feeders are great, but birds need other food sources.  Baby birds, especially, require insects and caterpillars for protein and nourishment. Caterpillars: It's What's for Dinner.

    If you use pesticides on your lawn or garden you may be contributing to the demise of birds. First of all, the birds need insects for their diet. And second, some of these chemicals, such as neonicotinoids are toxic to birds as well as to insects.

    Free-roaming cats are responsible for 2.4 billion bird deaths in the United States each year. Please keep your cats indoors to save the birds!

    Learn more here about how to save the birds: American Bird Conservation

    This spring I am going to plant a native serviceberry tree and some native shrubs and plants to help feed the birds. What are your plans for saving the birds?