Although here in the United States the shock of what occurred a couple of weeks ago in Japan, the conditions there continue to deteriorate. People who have lost their family, their homes, their possessions now have to comes to terms with their reality never being as it once was in new ways as radiation spreads over land and sea. It would be almost impossible to retain hope in a situation like that and I have to believe that knowing that there are so many people in the world hoping and praying for you, being strong and optimistic at a time when you simply are not emotionally able, might help me to persevere through another day of complete and total unknown.
You may have noticed lately among the photography community an outcrop of images of origami cranes. It’s part of a project designed to send a clear message of hope and support to our brothers and sisters suffering in Japan. It is a small gesture, no doubt, but hope is a mighty force…and one I believe in wholeheartedly. I am contributing my images to the hundreds of others being collected and I’m encouraging you to do the same.
“The crane is often the subject of art, poetry, myth, and music in Japan. It is believed to live 1000 years, making it a symbol of longevity. It is said that a thousand folded cranes, one for each year of its life, makes a wish come true.” ~Miya Company
I, like many of you, had no idea how to make an origami crane before last Friday. But thanks to a very helpful You Tube tutorial, I managed to make a couple that could pass. And for those of you who think that you still are not crafty enough to handle such a task, I want to share with you that the crane in the above photo was made by Rayne {6 years old} on her first try.
You can submit your images to the 1000 Cranes for Japan Flickr group. Also, I’ve decided to make this week’s Sunday Creative prompt Crane as well to try and get even more participation, even more cranes, even more hope, and even more prayers. The Miya Company is offering to donate $5 for each of the first 1000 crane images they receive to the Save the Children for Japan’s relief and recovery.
I hope you’ll consider joining me in this world wide wish…this grand message of hope and perseverance for Japan.
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