I steady my thoughts as the word, “peace” saturates itself in my mind.
I figured Christmas to be a time of peaceful tidings and warm spicy drinks [and oh, it is!] , but as a friend brought to my attention this weekend, I’m living a bit contradictory to this season of “peace”.

There are good reminders as we fall upon this season - when people are just a little bit happier than the rest of the year because the air is cooler and we see dear ones we love and enjoy eating honey baked ham with…(errr, how I hate ending a sentence with ‘with’ — it just seems so abrupt, like what I’m saying is quickly falling off a cliff - ok ok, enough of that.)

But, this season has brought many lessons in peace and in well, biscuit making [and I have my Gran to thank for that.]

“Blessed are the peacemakers…” I run this through my thoughts - weaving it in and out of experiences and hopes like a needle through fabric. The world is not ‘shalom’ - peace and completeness. I think of the droughts in Kenya and the shivering soldiers in the Middle East and I think that peace and completeness are far off the agenda. 
Of course, what am I doing to bring Shalom? What am I doing to bring peace, because it’s not just a thought; it’s an action - as my Rabbi calls me to be….a peacemaker.

Here’s to the preparation of my heart. to bringing peace in my community and among my Beloved brothers and sisters.

Now, I said biscuit making because really, there’s nothing better than homemade biscuits. Also - it’s the conversation during these lessons. Learning and conversation sometimes transfer into metaphor, at least in my opinion, but I was reminded as we got onto the conversation of wine [and the parable of wine and wineskins.]
I thought on the idea of new wine in old wine skins and it got me thinking on life and the things I’ve learned in the past few years. 

I’m not sure if this story had ever really impacted me on a deeper level than it has recently, realizing all the life that is happening lately. Lots of new ideas and difficult times; the deeper and at times, more conflicted spirituality - things that old wine skins wouldn’t be able to hold. 
These things expand as they settle in my bones and show me that life is delicate and rich and happening all around. 

These new wineskins are fresh, but can handle the expansion of my heart — Unfamiliar, but necessary for growth.

We take wisdom as it comes and we give thanks as it grows in certain seasons;

blessed are the peacemakers,

as flour and milk and water create the elements of bread,

we give thanks for the wisdom that comes from life,

and those necessary buttermilk biscuits…