Tuesday 4 November 2014

Dona Nobis Pacem 2014 ~ Sowing the Seeds



  We're sowing the seeds of love


Did you know that the seeds of the gigantic redwood trees are tiny? Each seed is barely bigger than a match head. You could fit a potential forest into a tablespoon.

 

There's something miraculous about that fact; that something so minuscule has the potential to grow into one of the world's tallest trees. A good reminder to never underestimate the small or seemingly fragile.

Sometimes words can feel as small and insignificant as tiny seeds.

That is especially true this Blogblast for Peace, as we come to the final months of a year littered with humanity's failings; tragedies, disclosures, scandals and lies.

 Without love and a promised land
We're fools to the rules of a government plan

I've seen, or been sent, global examples of TV media blackouts on vital issues. Things such as major protests and marches; from Ireland's tens of thousands against water charges and New York's 400,000 marching for global warming to the most recent appalling treatment of peaceful protesters at London's Occupy Democracy. 
 
 As the headline says you're free to choose
One of these days they're gonna call in the ruse
 
There's been disclosures of voting and election fraud in several countries.

Could you be, could you be squeaky clean
And smash any hope of democracy?
 
Pushed through laws and budget cuts that target the most defenceless: the disabled, elderly and poor...  
 Now what does that remind me of?
 

Feel the pain, talk about it,  
 If you're a worried man then shout about it  
 
 Pollution, big business greed and deception, political avarice and the constant push for wars.

 Open hearts, feel about it, 
Open minds, think about it  
 

Everyone read about it, 
 Everyone scream about it

It has been an exceptionally depressing year. One that has left many feeling bitter, despairing or angry as hopes for a better future vanished.

I spy tears in their eyes
They look to the skies 
for some kind of divine intervention

How does hope rise above all that despair? How does peace stand firm when filled with bitterness or anger? The only way is through love, because love has no time to bother with being disappointed, hurt or angry.


When you're sowing the seeds of love
anything is possible  
 
Just like a giant redwood tree, love soars above such trivialities. 

Love understands that we all fall short along the way. None of us is perfect. Love remembers this and is willing to hold out a hand of comfort and sympathy. Love isn't a fool, but it understands the need for reconciliation, determination and persistence.

Love offers seemingly small gifts: patience, protection, empathy, fairplay; little words of encouragement and understanding. Such things may seem pointless and small, but small words in the hands of love are very powerful seeds.


Everyone read about it, read about it
We're sowing the seeds of love. 


We are facing hard times on this planet. There's no use sugar-coating the facts. Things are bad. And tough times need tough love; real Love.

 And I believe in love power 
(open your eyes)
 
 The kind of Love that stands with dignity and calm in the storms, like a redwood tree.

We're sowing the seeds of love
 

Love offers protection to the helpless, compassion to the weak and a voice to those who cannot speak for themselves. Love persists and quietly insists on being taken seriously. Love keeps standing up, taking part and speaking out.

Sowing the seeds... 

So we hold onto love and we keep talking about peace...

of love power

We keep writing about peace...
We're sowing the seeds of love
 
And most important of all, regardless of religion, nationality or political affiliation... we hold onto that tough love and we rise above the masses like a forest of redwood trees.


High time we made a stand
And shook up the views of the common man



 We have to be leaders rather than followers. Way showers. Light keepers in the dark. 


As Gandhi put it: "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win." 

Well...   I've been through the ignored and laughed at. That means I've only got one more stage to get through. I think I can manage that. ;-)



And I believe in love power  (open your eyes)
We're sowing the seeds of love

 

 
 
 Sowing the seeds,
An end to need, 
And the politics of greed 
with Love

34 comments:

  1. Wonderful post, Michelle. I hope peace to this world to....

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  2. LOVE this post, especially those bits about love. I've been swamped with so many things that I haven't had time to prepare this year's Blog Blast for Peace and couldn't come up with anything, either. Maybe next year, then. :-)

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  3. Hi Juliana

    Thank you. Yes, we wish and pray for peace and never give up! x

    hi Amel

    I almost didn't make it myself! I did all of this in the last two days. See you next year ;-)

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  4. Love it.

    And as a longtime backyard farmer, I am ever-dazzled at what can grow from one tiny seed.

    Today I sow with you.

    Dona nobis pacem.

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  5. Thank you, together we are sowing these seeds of love. I hear your battle cry for peace :)

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  6. I did not know how small the seeds of a redwood were. What an interesting lesson . . . so much potential in such a small package. Thanks for your peace post.

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  7. I cam back to tell you I enjoyed reading about how your family reconnection happened through a TV show! Whatever works, right? Peace.

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    1. Thanks Goodnightgram :-)

      Ditto on the weird wonderful fact that redwood seeds are so tiny. And I really enjoyed your family reuinion stories. I am now friends with several cousins here in the UK I met after that connection. It's been wonderful.

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  8. Such an inspiring message. I love "light keepers in the dark." Shine on!

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  9. I had no idea that seeds of a redwood were is that small.
    I have to qoute Dalai Lama once moore :)
    If you think you are to small to make a difference , try sleeping with a mosquito :)

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    1. Ah that made me laugh!

      Oh boy... and midges! I've discovered midges in Scotland (I'm originally from Africa)

      Never underestimate small things. ;-)

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  10. You certainly have been through a lot in your part of the world this year.
    The world is so crazy right now.
    I loved this part especially .. "love has no time to bother with being disappointed, hurt or angry." We always come back to the same remedy, don't we? It's our only hope, as you so eloquently stated.

    Warrior on, Michelle.

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    1. Thanks Mimi

      I kept looking at your bowl of marbles and seeing an illustration I had in a children's Bible years ago - of the parable of the sower. Some will fall on rocky ground, but some will flourish. That is all we can do.

      xx

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  11. Outstanding! I went on a field trip once as a kid to see the big redwood trees. You have to stand amidst them to truly appreciate the massive grandeur.

    Your words are truly inspiring today. Well done.

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    1. Thanks Travis x

      An American friend of ours was amused to photograph her first redwood in Scotland. The Victorians planted them. Not as big as yours... yet. Which is why I didn't use my own photos for this post.

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  12. What an inspiring and thought-provoking message and post. Love your peace globes Michelle and we love your design that we incorporated into ours for today, thank you for that. We join you in blogging for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem.

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  13. A beautiful piece for
    PEACE and LOVE. .♡♡

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  14. Beautiful words! Purrin for peace always <3

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  15. Beautiful written :) Peaceful Pawkisses, Little Binky and Granny :) <3

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    1. Ahh, that's lovely.

      I'm a sucker for kitties.

      Thank you!

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  16. I woke up thinking about the media, how it controls what we see, think, believe. How it could do so much good. And doesn't know how to.

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    1. Hi G~G

      Oh boy... I hear you! It hurts, doesn't it? To see so much potential wasted. We are a very wasteful species.

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  17. It was only when my daughter said, 'Oh, I didn't know it was the Peace day today. Am I too late?' and I told her it was never too late, that I realised that I have at least sown one small seed of my own in the next generation, and that seed came from a good crop of peace that begun in Blogingham and has blown all over the world.
    I love your post here, Michelle! :-)

    Peace to you and yours

    Nameste x

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    1. Thank you Annelisa

      I hold onto that thought myself, how it's never too late or too small. Got to hold onto hope, I think it's probably what makes seeds germinate.

      x

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  18. "...it's probably what makes seeds germinate.".....OH YEAH.
    I believe it.
    Thanks for making me think tonight. You are such a peace girl.

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  19. Always good to see you, Mimi. And thank you back... for planting the first seed. x

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  20. Sorry so late, Michelle.
    Lovely peace post! We'll keep planting seeds!

    Peace to you this holiday season and always! :-)

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  21. Hi Ferd

    I'm still wading throuhg Blog4Peace posyts myself. The down side of it getting bigger.

    Hope you had a lovely holiday and BEST wishes for the new year. x

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