I’m not sure if everyone that sees this blurb will get that reference because our community has broadened during our time meeting online to include quite a few folks that have never, ever been part of an “in person” gathering. Crazy thought, and also kind of exciting! In any case, it’s a line from the chorus of a song we sang together in the olden days, when we met in a physical space. It’s what immediately came to mind when I read what I’m about to share.

This week, Judi and Misty are taking the Talky Bit. I’m continuing my recovery from eye surgery (basically, I still look like I had a run-in with a pointed stick but getting better daily), and grateful for all the support from the community, including this. That said, this is NOT “filler”. Judi and Misty are thoughtful and integral fellow explorers, people who have both taken cherished beliefs in hand and looked at them squarely, asking (and continuing to ask) hard questions like, “Do I still believe this?”. We’ll get a glimpse of some of that this Sunday. Here’s what Judi sent me earlier this week to pique our interest:

One day a long time ago, my father was up in the Smoky Mountains with his grandfather, learning some of the Ways from the old man. They had walked way up into the mountains where they could gather certain herbs and other special things only found in sacred places that are closer to Galun’lati (the Sky World). Grandfather was instructing my father to collect certain things as they went and to carry everything that they had found. But this became increasingly more difficult because he only had so many pockets or other places in which to carry things and it became more and more difficult to walk with so much stuff. But the old man was walking along easily and just kept finding more things for them to carry back. Pretty soon, my father’s hands and arms were full and all his pockets too. He was completely loaded down with all of these things and had nowhere else to put anything. But Grandfather just kept on going. Suddenly, the old man spotted a very special stone that was rather large. He asked my father to pick it up, telling him that it was very important, and kept on walking. But my father, who could not pick up the special stone, answered in frustration, But Grandfather, my hands are full . . . The old man spun around and smiled cleverly. Then I guess you’ll just have to drop something, he said, and kept on going  (Source: Michael Tlanusta Garrett and Eugene F. Pichette, Red as an Apple: Native American Acculturation and Counseling With or Without Reservation, Journal of Counseling and Development, Winter 2000)

 

I (Judi) read that just after Misty and I started talking about the discussion for this Sunday. I sent it to Misty and she loved it, too. Our topic, that of deconstruction of faith, seemed like it could be thought of in this way: What have we carried? What did we need to drop? What are we choosing to carry as we go on?

Doesn’t that sound intriguing? I am really looking forward to this! Here are the details:

We will be gathering online here at 10:45 a.m. for music and Community Time. The pre-recorded piece with Judi and Misty will show up at 11:15, which means it’ll end around noon, followed by “And Lunch After” (the zoom hang) at 12:30.  There will also be the usual Wednesday 7:30 p.m. zoom hang.

You can view the full video directly on our YouTube channel here:

Also, a reminder that on Sunday, April 25th, “And Lunch After” will be our AGM. Anyone got a catchy name (other than “Annual General Meeting” that we could use to rename “And Lunch After” that week? Maybe one that uses the acronym AGM as it’s starting point? I’m all ears..

I’ll post the link for both the Sunday and Wednesday zoom events below, and I’ll see you on Sunday!

Peace,

Tim Plett

And Lunch After (Sunday at 12:30): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81978070666?pwd=aWc2SjFWWE1sZUVMNG5IUi9VQ0duZz09

The Wednesday Evening Zoom Hang (Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85777988652?pwd=UGR2ZkxtWklEaFZ5bXE1b3RkdUJXdz09