Saturday 7 November 2009

The Rain-Bird Award

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November the 5th was Guy Fawkes in the UK (and colonies) and Peace Globe day to hundreds of bloggers. Personally... it was also a really horrible day in what has been an extremely difficult year.

I started Nov 5th with a bad news phone call caused by bad news mail. From there I dashed to the doctor (check up) to discover I need MORE medication and then on home to bad news by email! Not surprisingly I still haven't read most of the wonderful Peace Globe posts listed on Mimi's blog. Last year they were such a joy I could hardly wait to read, but this year I was too busy, too angry, then too tired...

...and finally, last night I had my first migraine in over a decade.
This morning I feel like I've been thrown against a wall repeatedly. Typing is... s-l-o-w.
BUT I have finally started to read the other Peace Globe posts and the quality this year is just as impressive as last year. Wonderful writing, gorgeous graphics and lots of music videos (which I'll go back to enjoy when my head feels normal once again!).

Reading through some of the Peace Globe posts this year I couldn't help but compare them to the emails my friends have been sending me this year. This has been a very hard year for so many people. Swine flu, global economy in tatters, ill health, lost jobs, deaths and destruction... all we need is a few plagues and we'd be Biblical. Oh wait... we do - we have Swine flu!

It made me think of a story I read years ago about Peace. In trying to remember it my mangled brain mangled the memory, but I did manage to find a version online. (I love the internet!)


There once was a king who offered a prize to the artist who could paint the best picture of peace.

Many artists
tried. The king looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them. One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with soft clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged
and bare. Above was an angry sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all. But when the king looked closely, he saw beside the waterfall a small tree growing in a crack in the rock. In the tree a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest – in perfect peace.

The king chose the second picture.
“Because,” explained the king, “peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace.”

~Author Unknown

It's easy to talk about peace when life is calm and smooth. Creating peace when your life is a mess and the world seems in chaos... that's the real challenge!

I know so many dear friends (and family) who sat their doctorate in "Peace under Pressure" this year. I think I came in as a third year... hopefully with honours.

In honour of us all I have created the new Rain Bird Award - for Peace under Pressure. I dedicate it to every person who has come through their own personal "war" with... if not their dignity and sanity intact then at least with compassion and humour! ;-)

If I had to list them all it literally would take 90% of my email and blog list. Instead I'm only officially handing it on to one today - the Queen of Peace herself... gracious Mimi, who stood by her Peace Globe promises as she stood by the side of her dying father.

I know they're both proud of you Mimi, little girl.
(but Papa picked the flying heart)

If you're one of us, one of those who's been sitting out the storms and rain lately, then please feel free to accept the award below for yourself. We all need to remember to pat ourselves on the back for getting through the tough times. This is for all of you...

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18 comments:

  1. This is beautiful, Michelle. Love the story of the two paintings and what it symbolizes. Hope you are feeling better soon and that things calm down for you there too. Hugs from Daisy.

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  2. Lovely, Michelle! :o)
    There's a song the kids used to sing in Vacation Bible School when they were little that kept going through my head while reading. One of the verses goes:
    I want the Peace that Passes Understanding down in my heart,
    down in my heart,
    down in my heart.
    I want the Peace that Passes Understanding down in my heart,
    down in my heart to-day.

    May that Peace be down in your heart today!

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  3. You're on the short list of people I'd love to meet someday to hug.

    Sending healing thoughts and warmth to you, kindred spirit.

    Have I ever told you there are always crows hanging out where I live? I've lived in two houses... and always... crows. It dawned on me Thursday morning and I thought of you.

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  4. I hope you feel some relief soon and the noise quiets a bit to allow you a moment of peace.

    Silly Saturday #4 - Purdie Pyrate "The Pen's Mightier than the Sword"

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  5. wonderful post Michelle. sending blessings to you, may you weather this storm with your strength, grace and humor intact.

    (and thanks for telling me about this. I didn't post - between getting a cold and chaos I simply forgot. But it's good to know about for next year...)

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  6. Dear Heart ~ Wishing you the 'peace that passeth understanding', and then 'the peace that every idiot gets because it's obvious and easy and has absolutely nothing to do with character building, and is just enjoyment' and happy days and nights.

    Hearts to you.

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  7. First, thank you for 'personally' dropping this Award on my doorstep. The fact that you created it, makes it that much more special. Second, I love this post. Even though you were dragging yourself through the ringer, you felt it necessary to move forward despite your personal well being. I salute you! The anecodate you provided about the King fits perfectly. Well done Michelle!

    I do hope you are feeling better soon.

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  8. Daisy
    Feeling way better than I did yesterday, thank you. (((hug))

    Hi Betty
    I've never heard that song. Thank you.
    Love to you! XX

    Hi Ann
    Ah :-) I'm all big smiles here. Ditto, dear new friend. :-)The biggest blessing of Mimi's Peace globes has been the global friendships she's created in the process. Your hug is formally stored for future bad or rainy days. I've noticed hugs have no expirey dates and store well. ;-)

    I love crows! (can you tell? lol) I watch them flying here and there is so much joy and laughter in them. They mess about and have fun.

    Nessa
    Thank you. It's been so nice meeting you through Mimi's blogblast. :-)

    Hi Hayden
    Ahh, chaos... you too? ((hugs)) Take an award!

    ((Minna))
    Dearest friend. Love and hugs to you always. XX

    Hi Bogey
    Another dear hearted internet friend who is so worthy of rain birds and rainbows! Take another ((hug)) while you're here.

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  9. What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it. I hope your bad news is mitigated very soon with something spectacularly wonderful. May healing be ever available to you.

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  10. I struggled through a migraine cluster last week. I'm really sorry that hit you too.

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  11. Michelle ~ First let me Thank you for visiting my blog the other day and leaving your wonderful comments.

    Peace also be with you, I hope your Migraines are over never to return. I liked this story about the King and his search for peace. We could learn from the Animal World. Loved the Part about the Mother Bird watching over her nest.

    Please stop by the blog again, I know I'll be stopping by to visit you again.

    Oh to visit Scotland someday, My Dad was born in Edinburgh and my Mum's Grandfather was a Fraser from the Highlands.

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  12. Hope your month goes better. Yes, it's a scary month with MB having cancer and her needing a hysterectomy. More details in my blog later.

    At any rate your award to us has a great outlook to it to the point of it being poetic in its outlook!!

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  13. Hello Michelle, Thanks for visiting my BlogBlast post and leaving your comment. I've read your own BlogBlast post as well as this one and am right there with you on both. This is a beautiful story, and as for your own health matters and the rough time you've had, I wish you all the best and hope you will see improvements in all areas of your life very, very soon.
    Janice.

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  14. Kathryn Grace
    Thank you for the lovely wishes.

    Hi Travis
    You too? My sympathies!

    Bill
    How nice of you to drop on by. As you will see... I already nicked your wonderful Greek video for my blog. *grin*

    I have added your link to my blog links. Do feel free to stop by anytime, even if it's just to say hello. :-)

    My mom's family were from Scotland, so we've come back to our roots in a way. It is such a beautiful country. Worth visiting, especially the Highlands.

    Hi Vince
    Really? I am so sorry to hear about that. Please let me know what happens - lately I'm not coping with visiting all the blogs regularly (as you will have noticed) and I hate missing the important things.

    My love and prayers for MB.

    Hi Janice
    Thank you for all the kind words. I love the blogblast because I get to meet such wonderful people. :-)

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  15. Michelle,

    I just saw this today. Oh my. I am a tad behind but enjoying all the beautiful posts. I am honored to receive this from you and will proudly display it on my blog - not for me, for all the peace bloggers I am so blessed to know from all over the world.

    You are chief among them.

    I hope you are feeling better. Migraines are the worst.

    I have an email to write you soon about something Baby Boy said when I introduced him to Papa's story last week. He took a good look at the marbles with a magnifying glass and pronounced,
    "They're spirit rocks."

    I kid you not. I nearly fell over.

    P.S. Papa always brought me hearts and flowers....

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  16. (((Mimi)))

    Oh wise little boy... even if he can't spell. ;-)

    I look forward to your email. :-)

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  17. Rather cool blog you've got here. Thanx for it. I like such themes and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read more on that blog soon.

    Truly yours

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  18. Thank you, Truly Anonymous

    Next time leave a name I can remember you by. :-)

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