[HANASHIR:3718] Re: Sermon in Las Cruces

[Ellen Allard <ellen...>]

Dear All,

As I read Andy's email about finding peace in our own families, I am reminded
of a story that a friend of mine who is a retired Unitarian Universalist
minister printed in her weekly column. It speaks of an elderly priest who was
asked about helping to create a more peaceful world. He replied that as a
young man, he thought that if he set about changing as many people as
possible, he could help bring about a more peaceful world. When he realized
that wasn't going to happen, he decided instead to set about changing the
people in his community, thinking he could help bring about a more peaceful
world. When he realized that wasn't going to happen, he decided to set about
changing the people in his family, thinking he could help bring about a more
peaceful world. What he finally realized was that by changing himself, his
chances of helping to create a more peaceful world were far greater than if
he'd tried to change anyone else.

I'm also reminded of a hebrew phrase shared by a friend of mine. I'd never
heard of it before, but it's had a strong impact on my life. The phrase is
"shalom bayit" or a peaceful house (or at least that's my understanding of
it). Since that phrase came into my life, there have been many, many
circumstances during which I've held my tongue (not always an easy thing for
me to do) and remembered to think about the greater whole, and not just my own 
needs.

When I heard about the shooting at the JCC in LA, I was very disturbed.
Perhaps, it had something to do with being at CAJE. In any case, what could I
do? I wasn't sure, but then I woke up from a nap with a song, the lyrics of
which I will share with you. I am reminded that as songleaders, as singers, we
can sing the songs that help to promote peace, the songs with lyrics that we
believe in. And by sharing our passion with others, by living what we believe,
perhaps we can reach out and help.

Thanks to those of you who wrote about the shooting. It has been too easy to
delete it from our memories. Though I wrote this song as a way of handling my
frustrations on the day I heard the news, I, too, have continued to feel numb.
When we talk about it, we we sing about it, when we write about it, the
numbness goes away and our continued efforts at bringing about peace are not
for nothing.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
music & lyrics by Ellen Allard

What is going on here?
What is this shooting for?
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.
Take away the ammunitions
Take away the weapons stores
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.

They're killing our sons and our daughters
Our friends and family
Nameless faces we don't know
It's a terrible tragedy
Take away the ammunitions
Take away the weapons stores
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.

We give them our permission
When will we say no?
To the senseless murder, the violence
Why do we let them go?
Take away the ammunitions
Take away the weapons stores
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.

What is going on here?
What is this shooting for?
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.
Take away the ammunitions
Take away the weapons stores
What is going on here?
We don't want it anymore.

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