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Icy weekend- warm welcome!
By farrind on 2008-12-13 18:25:37
Dear Friends, I got very caught up- who didn't in the changes wrought overnight by Thursday's ice storm? How was your
household changed? A few minutes ago I realized- gosh, it is Saturday- time to post something! From late Thursday till this
morning, my thoughts were very close to home. I did not have too many profound ideas about peace- too preoccupied with
finding an alternate route to work (Friday I met many closed roads and finally got to work at 12:30!). And with power
outages. Then, this afternoon was an event I had long anticipated. You may realize several families of Iraqis are in our
region- looking for stability, and a home- at least until things improve in their own country. Since September, a team of
helpful people have been doing many things- some small, some large, to ease this transition, to help with all KINDS of
things... but I'm not here to tell you the exact ways these families need assistance... But one specific treat was being
organized by this group. Communicating largely by email, we planned a party to give these families an informal and fun
afternoon. It was set for this afternoon, and at least 19 kids were going to be there. I love children and enjoy parties...I was
so eager to go! This morning my email-check-in-my bathrobe (don't you ever do this?) gave the first hint of a problem. An
email said "Will the ice storm effect this party?" Several hours later, I got a discouraging phonecall...the site of the party
indeed had no electricity, so the get-together had to be cancelled. The new plan was to simply take the food and presents to
each individual family. So at 4 PM we had a central place to meet- each person brought gifts and refreshments, and we
loaded them into our trunks, and took them to the homes, where our friends from Iraq enjoyed them. My feelings as the cars
drove off had changed from my disappointment and let-down when I realized the party was cancelled. Now I had that warm
glow you feel when you've found that "just right" gift for a husband, friend or son.. that nice sense that, overall, you have
done something to help a person. Can you name this feeling? What kinds of things make you sense that quiet, but powerful
feeling that you "did the right thing"? For me, it is the knowledge that my actions helped overcome some wall, or rift
between people...that I have waged peace. Keep warm, and work for peace wherever you can! farrind
