The Power of the Pen

There are few things as powerful as a hand written note, especially in these times of e-mail. I have been the recipient of a number of these lately, often on beautiful, sometimes handcrafted, notecards.

CraftyLyra was one of those people who sent me a beautiful handcrafted card along with a box full of silver cranes. The cranes were from her wedding. The cranes were folded in part by her wedding guests. Like the cranes folded by the sixth graders, there are some that show the struggles of the folder, but the persistence as well. CraftyLyra had 1000 cranes from her wedding. Many were given away to friends along the way. But she still had about 200 left. She wanted to know if I might be able to use them in this project. At first I was not sure if it was going to be possible. But the spirit with which they were being offered provided all the motivation I needed to challenge myself, and figure out a way to make it happen. It turns out the cranes were very close to the size of the waxed paper cranes. I decided I would use them with the waxed paper cranes. Incorporating one silver crane at at a time onto a strand of waxed paper cranes, at a random spot on each strand. They will be a small bit of sparkle amid the cranes.

Here is part of CraftyLyra's note to me;

"Thank you so much for accepting these cranes. They were made with love and I've cherished them for the last four years. I hope that you will find a place for them in your important work. Thank you for giving them such a meaningful new home!"

It is the love and intention with which these cranes were made that made me want to figure out a way to make it work. And the silver was reasonably easy to fit into the project. So thank you, CraftyLyra!!

Another hand-crafted note came from Jessica inside a large manila envelope, crammed with waxed paper cranes. I had no idea Jessica was out there folding cranes for the project until this envelope showed up in my mailbox. Jessica wrote,

"I taught myself how to fold cranes a few years back after boring nights at work and have been folding ever since, often times with no "purpose" in mind. When I cam across your project, I knew I could help and put my folding to use. Enclosed, please find the first batch with more to follow."

Don't you just want to give Jessica a big old hug! I know I do! Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Jessica. And the card both of you lovely ladies sent are wonderful.

Another note came from a new folder who had sent me several e-mails. As she was preparing to send me a picture of a crane memorial project done by a group of peace activists, she heard me on the radio. It was a call in program on NPR, about the lack of images of the war. As I talked about my own reaction to this war being so invisible, Pat heard me on the radio. She wrote,

"As I write this I hear your voice on "On Point" only a minute ago."..."I feel connected to the passion in your voice and to you. I don't know if you think in religious terms but I can't help but think that the Spirit is moving in these 'coincidences'."

I do believe in the synchronicity of events. That sometimes when we begin to work towards a goal, people and resources will appear for us as we need them. We just need to be ready to see them and accept them. Pat lives not far away from me, so we plan to meet and talk about the many resources she has in her network. I am looking forward to that meeting, and the fact that this generous woman has entered my life at this time.

This wonderful spirit and generosity shown by these three women is being exhibited by many others who are busily folding cranes for this project. That energy will be an integral part of this project, and it will be richer for it. The simple act of folding a crane puts a person's intention and energy into the crane. That is why I want many people to participate, folding even one crane as a recognition of a life lost. Adding their own voice and concern through that act.