Human to Human

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Say Yes, Say No — In Times of Trouble

I wrote this poem at a time of life, a time of trouble, when I was exploring a few important decisions. And a few nuances of boundaries. And the steps forward that went with a few lettings go.

For inspiration.

Say Yes, Say No

There are moments in our lives
when we are invited
to say a real yes.

It’s not the casual yes,
nor the flippant yes,
nor the sarcastic yes,
nor the inattentive yes.

A real yes
can change everything.
A real yes
can establish a new direction marking the difference that was “then” and what is “now.”

There are moments in our lives
when we are invited
to say a real no.

It’s not the casual no,
nor the dismissive no,
nor the distracted no,
nor the avoidant no.

A real no
can change everything.
A real no
can set new direction of a claimed life.

It isn’t every yes and no
that begins a great journey.
But some yes’ and no’s
reset the heartbeat of life.

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Less Prepared, But More Ready

Yesterday I was in conversation with a pastor friend and student from the NGLI program that I so enjoy. He brings wisdom, maturity, patience, honesty, vision. But quietly, which I also love.

We were talking about Circle. The movement he is feeling in Council Meetings. Just by including a Check-In. Not as a “convenience if there is time,” but rather as “essential part of the meeting.” Yup, it changes or restores a relational baseline, which, guess what, is so often the work.

My pastor friend then talked about a class he has been teaching. There too, check-ins. He was naming how by doing a check-in, it brought him clarity about what to teach and how to teach it that day. He could reference their stories and questions and tidbits.

And then he / we spoke it together. He said, appreciatively, “I’m less prepared.” He said it with a relieving glow in his eyes, telling me that he would normally have 10 pages of detailed notes. And then with similar glowing eyes, I added, “but more ready.”

Yup. Circle. It helps with that too.

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A Conversation With My 20 Year-Old

I’ve been having this conversation with my 20 year-old. Looking for ways to guide him into these next 2-3 years of his life. And looking for ways that celebrate who he is. School is not an easy path for him — though he has new excitement about a music program. The jobs he has worked haven’t lit him up. He didn’t stick with them. He is slowly acknowledging that a job does relate to a few more choices — some moola helps with the basics of freedom that he wants.

In a recent parent moment of hoping to say something helpful, I landed on, “your twenties are a time to experiment, to try things, to see what you love, to learn a bit about what you don’t love.” He smiled. Like he was being seen in a way that he wants to be seen. I smiled back, glad to have spoken something honest, and that he could receive (phew).

Well, lately I’ve been thinking a lot about these increments of living. Twenties. Forties. Sixties (which I occupy). Eighties. It’s my search for the bigger, yet more simple story that guides. And, because I’m me, I prosed it. Phew.

If the 20s are for experimenting, 
trying things,
learning what you like beyond the context of your parents,

the 40s are then a time to thrive with what you love,
accomplishing things, 
and learning through a few rough mistakes or disappointments,

which makes the 60s a time to experiment again,
this time with what is simplified,
and comes from essence,

and then the 80’s, should those happen,
well this is a time to offer kind eldering to the others,
and enjoy a cup of tea reflecting on it all.

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Regenerative Responders

NewStories, Responding to Climate Disaster, Creative Response, Bob Stilger

My friend Bob Stilger and others at NewStories are up to some pretty important and needed work.

This piece, Regenerative Responders, is a community of practice (connection and action) for people living through, and preparing, for disaster.

What I so often like in Bob’s work, and in our friendship over 30 years, is reclaiming a story that invites people to create, have courage, imagine together, tell the truth.

Enjoy peeking, donating, jumping in.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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