We had dinner with close friends last night. 9 grownups, 8 kids, meatballs, chicken, caesar salad, pasta, soup, and brownies. It’s what we all needed.
Gathered in the kitchen, the windows fogged up from cooking, it was a mingling of tears and laughter. We talked about the election of course, but mostly we shared funny kid stories, commiserated about work, and caught up as much as you can with 8 kids running around. It was loud and cozy, holy chaos.
Last night on her MSNBC show, Rachel Maddow reminded us that community is the greatest resistance to tyranny. She said, “authoritarians need to crush [civil society] because it’s not about them.” Those who seek absolute power cannot stand anything that isn’t about or for them. A strong civil society empowers people. PTA, churches, organizations, advocacy groups, book clubs, allow opportunities for people to think critically, organize, collaborate and connect beyond ourselves. We’re stronger together and that is a huge threat to those who seek power and control.
Earlier this week I shared a blessing and a promise;
no matter what happens, my hope lies in you, in us, in community, in beloved kin-dom.
On Monday when I wrote those words I didn't realized how right I would be.
It’s time to focus on each other.
It’s time to show up for and with each other.
It’s time to create a strong civil society.
It’s time to cultivate relationship of belonging because we need each other and we’re stronger together. (And we have more fun!)
It’s time to be community in an active sense. Community as a verb, an action word. More dinner gatherings, playdates, drinks after work, church, fandoms, scouts, quilting groups, sports teams, become a coffee shop regular. Find your people. As Maddow implored, join something. I think the pandemic caused us to forgot how to gather. We got used to the isolation and we forgot how to show up with each other. It’s time to remember.
WildWood is gathering this Sunday for outdoor church.
4 pm at Squaxin Park, picnic shelter # 2
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