For it is important that awake people be awake,
or a breaking line may discourage them back to sleep;
the signals we give — yes or no, or maybe —
should be clear: the darkness around us is deep.
~ William Stafford, From a Ritual We Read to Each Other
Dear Springhouse community,
Last month, we had quite a storm here in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Ice and strong winds left many broken tree limbs, uprooted trees, and extensive power outages in its wake. A dear friend who is from this area said this is the worst storm damage she had ever seen. Amidst the devastation, spring has still steadfastly arrived. Flashes of yellow, white, and pink flowers dot the rolling hills of this county. It is quite breathtaking and inspiring and a constant reminder that life bursts forth, no matter what.
Last week, as I headed to Springhouse, I noticed that a downed tree limb I see everyday had green buds on it. I was surprised, as I thought for sure the limb was dead. In fact, as I drove down our driveway, I regularly wondered how and when we were going to cut it down. You can see at the top of the photo in this post how the tree limb has been torn away from the tree trunk, quite significantly. It amazes me that, with the little bit of the limb that is still attached, there is enough life moving through the limb to allow it to bloom.
I can remember this resiliency in another way – when my Dad was dying. My siblings and I were sitting by his bedside in the hospital late at night when a nurse came in to tell us that the time of his death was near. When I asked her how she knew, she said it was because his heart was beating very rapidly, and that sometimes when people are dying, their body fights to live. It was such a precious moment to be with my Dad as his body transitioned from life into death. I will never forget it.
There is a strength in the fight for life that comes from deep and mysterious places. I was in touch with that deep place when I recently ran a half marathon – something I never thought I could do. I had been training since July, and I spent many days running by the Little River. I stayed inspired by the vision of the race, but what motivated me was a deep inner fortification that I could only access by staying in the moment. As the miles increased, the only thing that could get me through the pain and fatigue was to focus on that inner resilience. It was a strength that pushed through even though every part of me wanted to give up. I had to train my mind to focus on that deeper vitality, rather than the immense discomfort I would feel at times.
The green buds, my Dad’s rapidly beating heartbeat, and my body crossing the 13.1 mile finish line are all testaments to the resiliency and tenacity of life. Life is meant to thrive, and we can design our lives and communities to remember and take care of that deep inner resiliency. In our own lives, it means cultivating a relationship with, and being in touch with, the deeper force of life that lives within us. In a community, what binds us and gives us the stamina and inspiration to keep moving forward is a shared vision, mission, and values. As journalist Sarah Kendzior writes, “We are heading into dark times, and you need to be your own light. Do not accept brutality and cruelty as normal even if it is sanctioned. Protect the vulnerable and encourage the afraid. If you are brave, stand up for others. If you cannot be brave — and it is often hard to be brave — be kind. But most of all, never lose sight of who you are and what you value.”
When things get rough or are unclear at Springhouse, we stay on course by returning to our vision, mission, and values. Without our values, we forget who we are. These days, I see and hear from many organizations who are having trouble staying committed to their values. I have had organizations assure me that even though they are wiping language that honors diversity from their websites, emails, policies, and titles, they still value diversity. I have seen many more institutions change what they are saying and doing to comply with federal mandates so they do not lose their funding. I recently heard the provost of a very large university in this region wipe out their diversity efforts while also asking the students to “forgive him,” but he had to keep in mind the “product” when making this decision. By product, he meant the university’s graduates. I emailed the provost that day and kindly asked him to not refer to human beings as products.
The values we share as an intergenerational community are our collective heartbeat. They are the lifeblood of who we are – much like the life running through the tree and our very bodies. Each choice we make matters and creates the world we live in. When we choose to abandon values that respect and revere the unifying and diversifying power of life, we continue to create a world where the gift of life is dishonored. We continue to further the damage being done to humanity, the Earth, and her creatures. If we value restoration and liberation, we must return to the heartbeat of who we are, even and especially as we face oppression, brokenness, devastation, and death. We must choose the power of life if we want to be in right relationship with ourselves, each other, and this planet.
There is no question that what Springhouse is doing is needed now because we need places to practice living in ways that are different from our dominant culture. Join us as we practice saying yes to life, as we say no to the exploitation of vulnerability, and as we stay open to the possibilities that await us. If you are looking for a way to participate, seasonal meditations are happening now, our local Community Meal is right around the corner on April 11th, or you can come for an extended visit or apprenticeship to experience a day, week, or year at Springhouse.
Thank you for continuing to practice living in ways that value and honor life. We are grateful for you.
With love,
Jenny
