Friday 4 November 2011

Dona Nobis Pacem 2011 - The Dreamers...

... Every time that I’ve taken part in Blogblast for Peace I’ve tried to find a new viewpoint to the idea of Peace:

But when it came to planning for 2011 my brain went blank ... so I avoided the question by designing some Peace badges for Mimi instead.


Then I avoided it again by getting involved in Mimi's ‘100 Reasons for Peace’ challenge. It started small, just thimblefuls of peace, but those small posts soon started to overwhelm my everyday blogging and so I moved them all to a new blog - Peace Thimbles.

I was busy preparing a thimble post, when it struck me – THIS was my Blogblast 2011 message! This was everything I wanted to say.

'Have you been half asleep
and have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.'

That small thimble was a special song I had intended to post on the birthday of its composer, the magically talented Paul Williams. Paul Williams has been entertaining the world, and touching hearts, for over four decades. His songs have been recorded by everyone from Elvis and David Bowie to Frank Sinatra and… Kermit the frog.

It’s Kermit’s favourite song, The Rainbow Connection, that sums it all up for me
Mimi’s dream of Blogblast for Peace
inspired by Papa’s beautiful world-in-a-marble...


the Peace Bees, the Peace Bloggers,
all the everyday rainbow-hearted people involved…



'the lovers, the dreamers and me.'

The dreamers... that’s the real miracle of Mimi’s Blogblast - the fact that it has brought together people from all over our planet. People who all share the same simple dream of wanting a better, safer world.

'All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic....'


I chose a thimble for my peace “symbol” this year, because some days it feels as if trying to make the world a better place is like bailing a flood with a thimble. Let’s face it, you turn on the news and the media bombards you with wars, murders, and disasters. Dramas sell more papers than ‘feel good’ stories; most journalists would rather cover a war than a charity gala. As a result we get reminded far more often about humanity’s catastrophes than our achievements.

War is dramatic – Peace is humble.

It’s easy to feel small and overwhelmed when the media keeps reminding us of our failures. It’s easy to get discouraged when you’re standing there all alone with your thimble clutched to your heart.

'So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.'

So maybe you can't bail a flood with a thimble, but what if you had the world to help you?


What could you achieve if you bailed with a billion thimbles? What if you discovered you weren’t so alone after all? That’s what Mimi proved to all of us in blogblast for Peace – that we weren’t alone. Not yet a billion thimbles, but not alone.




'Somebody thought of thatand someone believed it,and look what it's done so far.'

I went looking for more info on what Paul Williams is up to nowadays and I discovered that he has a whole armful of thimbles of his own on his Connections website! You can find them here at Save me a Dream. Paul Williams is out there bailing bravely for victims of child abuse, domestic violence, fetal alcohol syndrome and so many others I can’t list them all! It’s an absolutely fantastic site, please go look at it. He has links to all kinds of help and support – a hundred beautiful thimbles.

'Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
when wished on the morning star?'

Now, as much as I like Kermit, I found a version of The Rainbow Connection on YouTube that fits my ideas about a peace-filled world far better. Go watch it and you’ll see a fragment of what I dream our world could be…


I also loved the way the world famous singer in this video walks into it in such an unassuming way.

Peace is humble…

I went to check up on Willie Nelson and found out that he's busy with his own thimbles of hope - he's president of Farm Aid.

Farm Aid is a non profit organisation that tries to keep family farmers on their land. Farmers are also the often completely forgotten victims of war. You cannot farm in a war zone, I know - I have family on my dad’s side who have been caught up in having farming land in a war zone. When we lose our family farmers, we lose the heart of our countries. When we lose farmers in war zones... people starve to death.

There’s a great quote on the Farm Aid site. Willie Nelson says:


I've always believed that the most important people on the planet are the ones who plant the seeds and care for the soil where they are grown.

He’s right - the smallest things are often the most important. It’s those who sow seeds, those who bail hope in small thimblefuls, who make this world a place worth living in. It’s the small ordinary people, mostly invisible, rarely acknowledged, who are the true heroes in Life.

So this year’s Blogblast theme is for you – sitting there reading this, holding your thimble and feeling like you don’t make much of a difference because you’re too small to count…

You count to those who matter.


'I've heard it too many times to ignore it.
it's something that I'm supposed to be.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
the lovers, the dreamers and me.'



Never think you’re too small to make a difference...



'Life's like a movie, write your own ending.
Keep believing, keep pretending.
we’ve done just what we set out to do

Thanks to the lovers, the dreamers…
and you.'


Jim Henson

* thank you to my friend, Kim, for designing the thimble. x
*credits to Sarah Edwards, for creating and maintaining Paul Williams' Connection websites
And everlasting thanks to Paul Williams and Kenny Ascher for "The Rainbow connection" :-)
...

35 comments:

  1. Beautiful post and It's not easy being Green. Paul Williams is one of my favorite composers. There is another similar verse in a song from the musical Barnum called one brick at a time. Imagine your beautiful thimbles sifting all the salt from the sea

    One stalwart chap with a cup and bunch of hours
    he can scoop all the salt from the sea
    Buds open up turning boughs to bowers
    all begun by just one bumble bee.
    To write with ease symphonies
    or at least solati
    filled with trills and obligati
    start with fa sol la ti
    leave the rest in the dust
    be the best
    if you're just content to climb,
    one brick at a time.

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  2. Very thought provoking and quite a lovely peace globe. From one Bee to another...Peace.

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  3. Wonderful post and lovely peace globe. Peace be with you today and every day. And that's my little thimble.

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  4. Hi Jamie

    Thank you for the new song. It's not one I know and yes, I love that verse!

    --
    Julie

    Happy blogblast day wishes to you too!

    --
    Hi Karen Jo
    thank you. Every thimble helps! :-)

    Ps... love your profile "critter". What is it? Not a teddy... not a monkey?

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  5. Thank you for the thimbles and the music and all of the words of hope for lovers & dreamers & me.

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  6. Just lovely! And it is like magic :)

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  7. Beautiful! My fave is your first one. Such a cool hippie vibe :) Peace to you today and always!

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  8. Kathy
    oh gosh.. you made me feel all "warm and fuzzy"! Thank you. :-) x

    --
    Sue
    It is. Thank you :-)

    --
    Hi Ivanhoe
    I like that picture too. :-)

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  9. Terrific post! I hadn't thought about Paul Williams in years, but as I read down, another of his songs popped into my mind. It would have made a good globe, too. We should pray for peace to save the planet now:

    "Before the breathing air is gone,
    Before the sun is just a bright spot in the night time ..."

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  10. Dona Nobis Pacem! This was a wonderful post for this year. It's also great that you were helping with the build up to the event and designing such great globes. I think it was 2006 when I started participating and I had trouble coming up with anything this year but unlike you I didn't make the effort for the build up. Peace to you and yours.

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  11. Beautiful. Yours is the first blog I'm leaving a comment on. May the ripple effect begin... Thanks for visiting us at Cat Wisdom 101 and hope you stop by my other blog The Boomer Muse.

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  12. You are an agent of change. Your words... well. And yes, peace is everywhere and sometimes it does come to us all of a sudden.

    Love that song... I do.

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  13. Wonderful post... and I loved the video!

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  14. What a wonderfully worded post for today and any day.


    Willie's version of the song has always been a favorite of mine.

    Peace today and always

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  15. Oh well done indeed! I have so enjoyed your thimbles of peace. Today you have captured the very essence of doing anything that we're capable of to advance the cause of peace in the world.

    Best wishes to you and yours for peace, this day and all days.

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  16. LOVE this post, M...there are many things that resonate with me but the ones that speak loudest to me are: "War is dramatic – Peace is humble" and "You count to those who matter"..."Never think you’re too small to make a difference..." and Jim Henson's quote. :-)))

    (((HUGS)))

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  17. I agree with Jamie, it is not always easy, but how can one stop?

    Beautiful post Michelle ♥

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  18. Beautiful peace globes

    Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

    ++++++

    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

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  19. Best wishes to you on this day of blogging for peace. I liked your post - thought-provoking. I liked the old peace post video about domestic violence and child abuse too. Thank you for your post. Peace to you.

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  20. Peace be with you today and every day!

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  21. Gal Herself

    You know... when I started this I had no idea he'd written The Rainbow Connection! I always thought of it as "kermit's song" LOL

    I do remember the other song you quoted. Oooh, it would make a great Peace Globe. I'm going to have to go look for it on YouTube now. ;-)

    --
    Hi Layla

    How super to be your first reply. I feel like I'm the centre of a ripple. nice. :-) I'll go check out your other blog. Thank you.

    --
    Dear Anndi
    Take a big ((hug)) for being such a constant source of peace bee sunshine throughout this event... and the whole year really.

    --
    Hi dawn
    Thank you. :-)

    --
    hey Vinny! :-D
    Nice to see you around. :-)

    Thank you. And yes, I think Willie's version is the best... after Kermit. LOL

    --
    Hi Travis

    Gosh. Thank you. :-))
    Such a nice reply - I'll be smiling all day on that one!

    --
    Hi Amel

    Thank you!! :-)) The quotes, of what I said, that you picked are my favourite bits as well. My "lightbulb moments" ;-)
    and yes, Jim Hension's quote is perfect, isn't it? It's actually sung at the end of the one Muppet movie.

    (((HUGS))) back!

    --
    thank you Gemel x

    Oh yes, we just have to keep keeping on. Small steps, small thimbles... it does make a difference.

    --
    ABBY
    oh I love your kitty signature!
    and the quote by Emnerson is so true.

    purrfect peace wishes to you all.

    --
    hi goodnightgram
    Thank you! and thank you for remembering my old video. I think that one was the best I've created.

    Peace and love to you.

    --
    Shannon
    Same back! :-)
    x

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  22. Oh you blogger of peace and singer of songs and painter of words and rainbows and magic...now you are a filler of thimbles.
    Because your words of hope in the 100 Thimbles you've lovingly woven give a lot of people hope, purpose, and energy to go on. **raising hand**
    including me.

    Your thimble posts are treasures.
    Just.like.you.

    Proud to call you my soul friend and sister.
    Love,
    Mimi

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  23. I am so happy to have made it to your blog. Your message has so much to think about. Wonderful version of the song!

    Peace should be made into a virus that is incurable!

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  24. Lovely. Peace is humble. It is also Possible. Love your post! Keep offering those thimbles of hope.

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  25. Wow, Michelle, this post is so rich and complete! I remember the Rainbow Connection song so well, from when my kids were small. You built a great Peace story all around it. And your graphics here, there, and everywhere, including on my own blog, are without equal. Really, I have no words for how richly artistic and beautiful they are. Your contribution to Mimi's project is truly special.

    Peace!

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  26. "Crow's Feet" has been included in this weeks A Sunday Drive. I hope this helps to attract even more visitors here.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-drive.html

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  27. Wonderful post. I have enjoyed your thimbles on Facebook. I will have to visit the blog.

    I love Willie Nelson. Farm Aid always arrives before FEMA. If you want to read some stories about him, visit blog.TexasRVTravel.com.

    Namaste.

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  28. What a beutiful blog u have:)

    Thanks for coming by...
    Yeah!I like your version of Durga.This new Avatar would be much more relevant in today's world. Don't I know who juggles everything 16/17 hours a day!

    I think your book sounds very exciting. Love the cover designs!

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  29. A wonderful post...written with love, simplicity and hope. Thank you for that...:)

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  30. Dear Mimi

    (((BIG HUG))) I'm so proud to call you friend and kindred spirit too.

    You started all of this, never forget that! as some have already said - you are the Muse. You are the inspiration that spurred all of us to dig deeper, think longer.

    Bless you for that - and thank you for being my friend. You are valued as both. X

    PS... I'm intending to keep the thimble blog going, with probably one thimble a week. Every day would kill me! LOL

    --
    Hi Bluezy

    "Peace should be made into a virus that is incurable!"

    I like that!

    Thanks for stopping to reply. :-)

    --
    Sherry Blue Sky

    I will do. Thank you. (love your profile name, btw. )

    --
    Hi Ferd :-)

    gosh... i'm out of words now, reading your reply. Thank you. ((hug))

    and Peace to you too.

    --
    FishHawk

    Thank you for the link share. Your Sunday Drive was great fun. :-)

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-drive.html

    --
    Hi CyberCelt

    thank you. I intend keeping up the thimbles blog on a weekly basis. It's too nice to let go of. :-)

    I'll check out your link on Willie. thank you!

    --
    Aksharaa

    Thank you. I envy Durga, I need more hands! Seriously... she's one of my favourite goddesses. :-)

    My book is waiting to come out on ebook soon (hopefully!) as that edition is now out of stock. Hoping edition 2 (with a nicer cover!) will be out soon as well. It's a mystery fantasy... with a slightly "new age" twist. ;-)

    --
    Lynette

    Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for replying. :-)

    Peace to you!

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  31. first visit to your blog...
    I love the idea of peace thimbles...
    beautiful.
    thank you.

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  32. What a beautiful post. Sometimes we don't have to look that far to find the right idea, but it might still take a while. I'm glad you found your inspiration for the peace post!

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  33. Hi rev
    :-)

    So nice that you stopped by. I love your prayer blog.

    Peace blessings to you.

    ---
    Hi Dot-Com
    Thank you. :-) and true - ideas and inspiration tend to be where we least expect them!

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  34. Oh, Michelle, I just love your thimble idea! Nothing's ever done all at once. The best things take time, and patience. It takes a lot of patience to bail out with a thimble, but if a lot of folk have thimbles,hey, maybe it won't take so long!

    Keep on bailing gal - I love it! :-D xx

    [post soon to be linked in Peace Bloggers Unite x]

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  35. very belated thank you, Annelisa

    I'm just now ctaching up on blog replies and still finding wonderful blogblast posts to read myself.

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