The Power of Ordinary
|
Note: this missive is one day late because I was so out of it yesterday from round two of a shingles vaccine, I completely forgot! Hello friends, The world lost two powerful, compassionate people this past week, Poet Laureate Andrea Gibson and Buddhist teacher Joanna Macy. Both of them found power in the world around us and in the human experience. “If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people, people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” –Joanna Macy Both touched many lives. Each of us has this power within us, if we commit to love rather than succumbing to fear. There is much to be fearful of in this world, but with love on our side? We cannot fail. Oh, things may feel like failure, time and time again, but if we place ourselves in what I call the “long arc” we will find that our efforts to love are not failures at all. Love connects us to each other. Love offers hope. Love—and grit, anger, joy, and determination—keeps us going. Love reminds us to try. “I don’t have a single plan for my life more important than learning to love people well.” – Andrea Gibson Like Joanna Macy, I too, believe that the efforts ordinary people are what will help society heal. Like Andrea Gibson, my most important task is to keep returning to love. We see love in action all around us, if we remember to look for it. Ordinary people feeding one another. Ordinary people standing up against terrorism. Ordinary people organizing to help their communities. Ordinary people joining rescue parties. Ordinary people blocking trucks and surrounding neighbors with their love. Ordinary people making music, baking bread, and sharing moments of life. There is power in our ordinary lives. I hope we claim that, and use it to sow good. Best wishes — Thorn
|
T. Thorn Coyle
Hello friends, What does it mean to survive? To build a life against grim odds? To grow beautiful, despite hardship? To band together with others like you, however distant? On a recent walk, I stopped, mid-conversation, to wonder at the beauty of a circle of succulents growing from a rock wall. Amazing, that such a beautiful thing could find a way to live in what would seem to me to be difficult conditions to thrive. Not only was there scant soil—between the cracks, somehow?—but the plant...
Hello friends, Folklore tells us of magical cities and villages that appear out of nowhere, and disappear again. I like to think that these stories are rooted in real events and real communities. I myself, have found magic in such places, time and time again. Last week, I was off grid at a lovely camping event in a small valley surrounded by tree filled mountains. There was a creek, and on the forest paths, some community members had planted ceramic toadstools, squirrels embracing acorns, and...
Hello friends, As you read this, I'm out camping with friends outside of cell and wifi range. So, to simplify things this week, I'm leaving you one photo and a podcast! First, the photo. It's from one of those moments where I'm reminded, once again, amidst the very real horrors, how much I love this world. Just look at that bumblebee on those bright pink sweat pea flowers. Amazing, yes? Photo: Bumblebee on Sweetpeas Next, I wanted to share the latest episode of Magic, Creativity, and Life....