CFD Director’s Message 11.13.24

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“The times are urgent. We must slow down.” – Bayo Akomolafe

While it has been a turbulent, disturbing time following the election results, I’ve been considering the theme of repair. Sometimes, as counter intuitive as it may feel for those who feel the pressure to act fast in the face of injustice, a foundational preparation for that work, for many of us to sustain ourselves, is to ground, rest, and reflect. (This is not to discount the work of those who act with urgency in the diligent care they provide to the collective, but it is encouragement to pace oneself to prevent burn out in doing so.)

Today, I’d like to highlight something that was shared by the UUA, just before the election:
“UUA chaplains the Rev. Dr. JJ Flag and the Rev. Victoria Safford offer some simple, quiet practices to tend to our spirits and souls, and remind us that through weariness and trouble, love will guide us.

Today, we center Interdependence (here is a practice to consider):

It’s time to go outside. Sometime today or this evening, make time to go out, rain or shine. Touch the living earth: soil, leaf, water, or just let the air touch you. Find a quiet place where you can stop for a while, just quietly. In your mind, or whispering, speak to the earth as if it were a loving grandparent, an elder. Say (in your mind or whispering) what you’re most afraid of now. Stay still a little longer, and then offer a small prayer, perhaps like this: “Right now, what I need most is _____.” Breathe deep, and touch the earth again, with gratitude.

While struggles persist as we navigate a system that is so rooted in capitalism and various forms of oppression, it’s a beautiful life. I hope that today and always, you remember and have the privilege of releasing the erratic noise of the world and stopping to take it all in. Those moments are real treasures, and the practice of presence can be quite restorative, allowing us to keep showing up for the long-haul work that will certainly exist beyond our lives. We need one another just as much as we need the nourishment and care that Earth so generously provides.

Upcoming November activities: