Small Difference Pearls

Poet Marge Piercy captures the essence of worthwhile activities in To Be of Use: “…Hopi vases that held corn, / are put in museums / but you know they were made to be used. / The pitcher cries for water to carry / and a person for work that is real.” People thrive best when they feel useful, making small differences somewhere.

Today is the anniversary of Lois Whitacre Clark’s death. At age 99 ½ my lovely mother no longer felt useful, although she valiantly tried to leave her bed. When the pandemic kept her housebound for two years, she deteriorated both physically and cognitively. One could argue that her health decline was inevitable at her high-flyer age, but the shut-down contributed to Mom’s growing angst. Never one to swear, Mom called it the “pan-damn-ic.”

I asked Mom for the meaning of her symbol for life — a butterfly. She told me she needed time to reflect. She replied in an email:

“BUTTERFLY MEANING, you ask? Some words that come: unexpected; momentary brush with beauty; desire to see where it will light again; heart-warming; shear fragile strength; unbelievable endurance ability; capable; bonding influence; admiration; affection; attraction; attention; amaaaazing [yes, multiple a’s]; gossamer-winged; flitting; mesmerizing, fleeting, momentous, haunting, recalling…that’s all I have to say about THAT! NO ‘BOX OF CHO-CO-LATES’ right now!”  Sweet dreams, Mom

Mom actually described herself. She was a bonding-influence and heart-warming gal who possessed unbelievable endurance ability. In her vital days of working at Head Start (until age 76) and lifetime of volunteering in numerous community groups, Mom bonded with her whole community. Once she was awarded keys to her city, South Bend, Indiana; another year she was inducted into South Bend’s Community Hall of Fame. You can find her picture online – the gal wearing a butterfly pin.

Butterflies are amazing! Some are known to fly as high as 19, 685 feet. One group of high-flyer butterflies was noticed by fighter pilots! Mom was a high-flyer not only in age, but also in her actions to promote peace. Her hand-made display posters and peace signs were well used; her work was real, standing with beloved Michiana Peace & Justice Coalition friends for years in downtown South Bend every Monday evening during rush hour. One sign read, “Taxes for Schools, Not War.” Mom called these peaceful vigils “Moral Mondays.”

I was asked if I am “channeling” Mom in writing Pearls of Peace blogposts. My answer was, “Not really,” but when you consider that I somehow chose Monday as the day of the week to send weekly reflections into technology’s amazing “cloud,” it does seem Mom-like. I know that she appreciated my first blog in July, 2021.    

Let’s think beyond making small differences on “Moral Mondays.” We could use some peace the rest of the week too.

Pearls of Peace (PoP) Quiz

157. What is one heart-warming difference you might make today?

158. What world might we have if we string our small differences together?