New Video - Ukrainian Now

Finding Beauty In a Broken World

“When the world loses its ethical compass, it need beauty to recalibrate. When words fail, what is left for us but to sing.” Ariel Burger From Witness: Lessons From Elie Weisel’s Classroom.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how to hold in some kind of life giving tension the knowledge of the worse and very best that humans can be and do. It is a question that many of us wrestle with as we hear the daily news of the tragedy unfolding in the Ukraine. I’m not sure I have an answer, but it feels right to keep leaning into the light further and with more love and longing, to create and lift up as much beauty as possible, and to do what I personally can with the resources I possess.

The author Terry Tempest Williams wrote, “Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.” I had that quote as a email byline for quite some time. So I ask myself each morning, “What kind of beauty can I create today? What does leaning further toward the light look like in my life?” This is a video project that was just released. It felt very much like leaning into the light.

Tom Paxton and John McCutcheon have written a heartfelt, stirring song, "Ukrainian Now," in solidarity with our kindred in the Ukraine. Noel Paul Stookey edited this beautiful video that includes Peter Yarrow, Bill Miller, Tret Fure, Holly Near, Joe Jencks, Emma's Revolution, Rebel Voices, Crys Matthews, and me, Carrie Newcomer, singing with them. Sheet music is at the end. Please share far and wide. Thank you, John McCutcheon, Tom Paxton, and Noel Paul Stookey for creating this song/video, and thank you for inviting me join you in love and hope and action for the better world.

Here is the link. I hope you’ll comment with your hopes and in solidarity …..and share!