This week as my of Journey of the Celebration of Life continues, the biggest lesson was right before my eyes. With most of Australia in drought, the tropical north is looking anything but tropical. Even the mossies have given up and moved on in search of moisture, hope they took the Kuranda Malaria with them, five cases reported in the past few weeks.
Like most people, I am letting the lawn and most of the plants fend for themself.
Each afternoon around 4.30 when the sun is low in the western sky. I go out and water the plants outside the bathroom window. Froggy (Litoria Infrafrenata) who shares the little white house with me, goes out this way each night. As he has been my constant companion for 15 months, I would hate him to find it too dry and hop a train and head south.
As I stood holding the hose, watching the bead like jewels of water, dancing and rolling down the stems of a day lily, thinking "Wow that's so beautiful."
Just as it was being stored it in my minds gallery. Into the spray came a very dull, boring looking, grey bird. A bird I had not given much attention to before, having so many birds of colour to observe in my backyard.
As it darted from branch to branch in front of me. The beads of water landed on it's outspread feathers, forming these same amazing prisms of light, quickly being thrown up in the air as it shook it's wings. The grey became flickers of rainbow lights. Grey bird was only a few feet away from me. I also knew from it's nervous stare it could see me. Nervous to start, it then settled as I stayed still, relaxed and bathed, cooled and called to others in the tree against the back fence.
They listened and watched but stayed put, while grey bird continued to play.
I realised then this may not be the best looking bird in my backyard, but
"Wow Greybird, you are the bravest" I quietly place the hose on a rock making sure the spray and bird remained, walking away for a few minutes so it could again call it's mates.
As I walked inside I thought:
We are so quick to judge others by our own standards, missing the beauty and qualities others possess.
Last weeks newsletter brought lots of responses. A few like Ami praising my writing skills, so much, he made me blush. It proves one thing,
Don't ever let your spelling and gramma, stop your feelings from writing themselves.
Christopher Grumblebum was caught off guard when feeling emotional about having another birthday, let slip he really likes me.
The most praise had to come from Shaun, who not only sent the more lovely words, but brought me a watermelon, a little healing stone and an offer to do anything to help me.
Rex Jory a journalist with the SA advertiser wrote
The second of my Yayha's, from Melbourne not Afghanistan was inspired to send me
An Old Lady's Poem.
He thought it may be too sentimental, instead it's good enough for the mentors page. This old lady like so many had qualities so many missed when she was alive. Thanks Yahya.
The flatterer, Ami from Israel, you will remember from last weeks newsletter, has been appointed one of Caitlin's Guardians.
We are working together on the article about solutions for the Middle East crisis.. It will be interesting, I can assure you of that.
I had decided in the past few weeks after meeting Arsenio from the Global Alliance, that while I am on my journey when I come upon people who are working for peace, really putting their heart and soul into it, like Arsenio,
I will appoint them as one of :
Caitlin's Guardian's. Through Ami I have meet another who deserves this title. Dr. Ada Aharoni was born in Cairo, Egypt. She now resides in Israel. A couple of things she wrote among her many- many books was:
"Art and literature can convey what no political speech can convey."
she also wrote for us :
Dear Kerry,
Congratulations on your peace work and best wishes for your efforts.
I found the Puerto Ricco declaration very effective, may it succeed!
Ada Aharoni
IFLAC: International Forum for the Culture of Peace
and:
Dear Kerry,
I would be delighted to be one of Caitlin's guardians, and also, to exchange links with your peace organization.
HORIZON is an online yearly Anthology, and number 5 has just been published on the web. Please feel free to use any of the materials or peace poetry appearing in it that may help you.
In 2003 we will issue a call for material for HORIZON 6, and we would be glad then to receive a submission from "One Mind One Voice." I am posting this message to our IFLAC List and group discussion which you may like to join.
We wish you much success with your innovative program, and for Caitlin's future, may it be one of harmony and peace.
To read more about Ada and her work, from there you can visit her own website.
The Wadi Ara Walk - 29 Oct - 5 Nov 2002 Jaffa to Jerusalem peace is around the corner may have ended but the memories and reports live on as do the words of Stephen Fulder’s at the launch of the walk.
“Peace is a process. We must let peace change us and then the world outside”.
As will the words of : Noga, a 14 year-old from Karkur who was marching with her mother and sister said " There's no point sitting at home and saying you want peace. You have to get out and do something to make peace".
Itai Goldin (whose brother was killed in a suicide bombing at the Meron Junction a few months ago) and Sami Jubarin from Umm El-Fahem (see picture) . Sami’s brother was killed by police fire at the Umm El-Fahem junction in the October 2000 riots which claimed the lives of 13 Israeli Arabs. They walked in silence together, no masks no disguises. Itai and Sami
Being able to stand up for your convictions can come at a price, a price we each must decide if we are game to take. Patrick sent on something about one such person who needs our help:
On October 28, Yigal Bronner, a professor of Asian Studies at Tel-Aviv
University, was jailed by the Israel Defence Forces for refusing to serve
in the Occupied Territories, in his words for refusing to participate in
"the humiliation, dispossession and starvation of an entire people."
(Please read Yigal's "Letter of Response to the General" at the end of
this appeal.)
The 2002 Melbourne Cup, having a brother working on the barrier's and sister-in common-law leading in one of the cup horses and a mum who flew down to mix with the grassroots people, didn't help me with my cup betting.
This cup will go down in History, as the one when Australian's didn't care if they lost their money, or care that the cup went to Ireland. Seeing jockey Damien Oliver riding with his recently deceased brother Jason's pants with name on the side, had to bring a tear to many eyes, including mine. How hard that must have been, starting down the track from the barriers, knowing both your Father and Brother lost their lives staring down a track somewhere. It's is so easy to give in, give up, it takes a big man to keep staring down the track.
Have a Wow! day, I will, I know what it feels like when someone says they really like you, brings down the defences, can disarms you in a hurry! gives you warm fuzzy feelings and brings on a feeling of peace! Easy isn't it!
Today, I'm going to talk to Froggy about something!
SHOWER with a friend to save precious water. That's the advice from Environment Minister Sherryl Garbutt, who said people who showered together would conserve thousands of litres of water over summer.
I'm willing to share my shower to save water, as long as Froggy lets me know when and where it is going to hop.
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Kerry Bowden
Global Strategic Alliance for the New Humanity, One Mind One Voice.
A Famility of Humanity
PS: Caitlin say
"Send someone you know my
Huggy hug, beats sending a bomb any day."
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