(If you’re new to the concept of Zentangle®, you can read about it here.)
This week, the Zentangle Diva (Laura Harms) challenged us to do a composition acknowledging the “Beads of Courage” program. Laura’s younger son was born with a congenital condition known as Moebius Syndrome. Her little guy has had to endure many hospitalizations and medical interventions in his young life. Laura co-founded the Beads of Courage program which she explains here:
Beads of Courage is an arts in medicine program that helps kids with chronic or life threatening illness tell the story of their medical journey. Each bead represents something different. A different procedure or appointment, or special circumstance. For example, when seeing a doctor or getting a poke instead of getting a sticker when they leave, they are given a glass
bead for each thing. (blue for doctor, black for poke… some other beads are yellow=night in the hospital, pink=respiratory support, magenta=trip to emergent care, teal=tube insertion or removal, rainbow=therapy; physical, speech, occupational, respiratory) and every child’s string is different and unique to their story.
Here are my beads. They are less inspired than I would have wanted because it was all I could do to find my tangling supplies. This was moving weekend for us and things are still in quite a bit of disarray. I’m hoping not to move again any time soon. It is quite exhausting at my age and quite discombobulating.
I like to try to keep my blog posts upbeat, but today is the day after the worst mass shooting in the United States—the usual, someone with an assault rifle. (We’re not counting the Civil War.) A terrorist shot up a nightclub frequented by the LGBT community in Orlando, Florida, murdering 49 people and wounding 53 others. In honor of the deceased and in honor of peace loving people everywhere, I am sharing the Tree of Life.
Ceramic Tree of Life from Guanajuato, Mexico.
Words fail. Peace. Out.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
I understand why words fail but we have to say something to show our disapproval and your tree of life is just right.
I’m glad you think so. I respect your opinion. It was very difficult to know what to say, but not saying anything didn’t see right.
I love the fact that the beads have told such inspirational stories and the idea behind them is amazing! Quite fascinating.
Thanks for your lovely art, and for sharing the beautiful tree of life. Maybe those tightly packed flowers can teach us something, we’re all stuck together too…or maybe I’m just too interested in making obscure metaphors and we should just all hope for the prejudice and hatred in the world to slowly wither and die away.
Thank you, Daniel. Feel free to comment on Boomeresque in obscure metaphors any time.
Pretty beads, great shadowing as well! And of course I love your tree of life. Let’s hope it inspires a lot of people to do good…
Thank you for your comment. We can only hope that people odd good will triumph in the end. Meanwhile—an ocean of tears.
The beads, the tree of life… words may fail, understandably, but these symbols shout out. Thanks for sharing them to remind us that courage is what we all need to muster. Completely empathize with your exhaustion with the move. My last one almost did me in as well. Chin up my friend… it will pass.
Thank you, Jacquie. Moving exhaustion pales in the light of the concurrent murders.
I see you managed to find some colored pens for your pretty beads. I like the positive and hopeful idea behind the tree of life. I don’t have words either for this kind of senseless tragedy.
That tree of life brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Suzanne!
Beautiful tree and tile. Beautiful words as well, in light of such a tragedy.
A beautiful tree of life that gives pleasure every time you look at the tree.
W. Shakespeare said:” a thing of beauty is a joy forever”, that is true, isn’t that?
I like your beads, original found and very nice shadows!
I think you found just the right note. I too am at a loss for words. Not only were there 49 people lost in that shooting but there were 43 shootings in the US that day! My mind just locks up with the senselessness of it all.
Your Beads of Courage turned out beautifully with the supplies you found. How nice is that?
A beautiful tile and tree you created! And thanks a lot for this wonderful words!
Your beads are beautifully festive. They remind me of the Gennaro St. festival in NYC.
Wonderful colourful tile with great shading. It almost looks like a child’s abacus. A lovely colourful tree of life, what a great thing to have at a time like this.
Great tile. And I love your tree of life. Good for what ails us this week.
Wonderful colorful Beads of Courage and love your Tree of Life! Hope your move is going well and you are getting more settled every day. I am soooo glad I don’t have to do that anytime soon however, it is about the only time things get a thorough cleaning out!! :0D
To not make beautiful art would mean they won and we failed. Carry on, Cheryl
Words fail – me too. I have not been able to get myself to write at length for some time now, as I’ve shared in our Whatsapp chatroom. Thus the blog has been somewhat neglected. Sending you hugs and prayers for settling in <3
Sometimes pictures are all we use to express our feelings and thoughts. I like your tile and your tree of life and the thoughts behind both.
WOW. So, so beautiful. It is such an amazing art form. I would buy that, frame it and put it somewhere where I could see it every day.
Very nice Diva-tile!
Beautiful beads! I really like the coil string! Your tree of life is beautiful as I continue to lift up those who died, and those who still suffer… families, the wounded, their families and all those affected by this horrible atrocity. Art helps to calm the soul.
I think it’s time to repeal the Second Amendment. Who’s with me?
You know our moves in the past 2 years so you know I understand “the move” fatigue.
After we moved into this house – which also sometimes serves as a country weekend house for our son and daughter-in-law – I announced to said son and daughter-in-law, “When Dad and I next move, we’re going to hand you the keys and walk away. You can have it all because it’s going to be yours anyway.”
I know we have at least one more move because there will come a time when we won’t be able to take care of 5.25 acres and a house. The minds will be willing, but at some point the bodies will rebel. 🙂
I love the vibrant colors of your tree of life.