“Swimming, One Day in August”
by Mary Oliver

It is time now, I said,
for the deepening and quieting of the spirit
among the flux of happenings.

Something had pestered me so much
I thought my heart would break.
I mean, the mechanical part.

I went down in the afternoon
to the sea
which held me, until I grew easy.

About tomorrow, who knows anything.
Except that it will be time, again,
for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.

There is an image from a magazine on art and mindfulness I picked up several years ago that has stuck with me ever since, as I found it both funny and wise. Among a busy, colorful background, it spelt out in scrabble tiles: “Relax, nothing is under control.”

This message seems be as relevant today as it ever was. As much as many of us grasp for a sense of control and autonomy in our day-to-day lives, the vast majority of what is happening truly is out of our control. In response to this notion, fear and anxiety may arise, but we also get the opportunity to deepen a sense of surrender and cultivate peace.

Another favorite of mine is a well-known quote from Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, Victor Frankl: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

In a world inundated with stimulation, may we make space. May we both pray and work for justice, and find ways to stay grounded, replenished, and centered through the abundant injustices we are faced with. To echo the words of Mary Oliver, may our spirits know depth and quiet through the practices, the spaces, the connections, and communities that restore us.

Some upcoming happenings outside of our standard Sunday morning programming:

• Saturday, August 16th, 4pm, Food Not Bombs Prep

• Wednesday, August 20th, 6pm, (*postponed from previously listed date due to scheduling challenges among the group) CFD Committee Meeting and Dinner
  We will be celebrating the transition that some of our volunteers are taking, meaning there is space for others to participate with the kids at UUFM! Please contact Macey at lffdirector.uumankato@gmail.com if you would like to join us to celebrate those departing from their roles and to learn more about what it’s like to volunteer!

Activities yet to be determined – please let Macey know by emailing her at lffdirector.uumankato@gmail.com if you have any interest in participating in any of the following, as these are ideas that could use some support. Please know staff are always open to hearing yours, too:

• Painting mall-scale mural in the Children’s Faith Development classroom
• Organizing fall clothing and item swap day
• Crafting keychains for our Backpack Blessing ritual
• Lastly, this one is a certain date, but another invitation is assisting with kid-friendly crafts at Mankato Pride (possible coloring, beads, tie-dye – I am still considering what will be possible)