Sharing fellowship, earthly joy and sadness

julie
Moderator

Posts: 11

Sharing fellowship, earthly joy and sadness Jun 2, 2020 13:37:24 GMT -5

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Post by julie on Jun 2, 2020 13:37:24 GMT -5

We are facing so much change along with the unexpected and unfathomable disintegration of the familiar, secure structures and systems of our lives, that we need to hear ourselves saying what it is we most value, and what we love , to affirm our innermost strength to meet the existential challenges at hand and on the way. We can not be together physically, but we can learn
to trust and articulate our feelings and share them in a way that brings us together emotionally to work through this troubled time.

We need to face the truth of this ecological, social, political and financial disintegration, and to tap into the source of our capacity care for our earth and fellow beings, to meet the moment with renewed belief in just doing the very best we can do to take care of one another .

For the time being, we can ‘meet’ virtually by zooming in together each week for a group meditation and sharing of how we are doing and what is facing us. We can harness the cyber realm to keep in touch with our community while we need to stay apart. It will challenge us to practice open-hearted expression, but we will be strengthened by the exercise of our understanding when we hear ourselves and others open to our joys and fears.

Gary Riccio
Global Moderator

Religious freedom, reason and tolerance for inspiration and responsible action.

Posts: 126

Sharing fellowship, earthly joy and sadness Jun 5, 2020 13:09:41 GMT -5

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Post by Gary Riccio on Jun 5, 2020 13:09:41 GMT -5

Thank you Julie. An overarching threat I see in the global and societal problems we are facing is an uncomfortable convergence of sociology and psychology. Sociology can bring attention to societal inequities, and this is a good place to start conversations. BUT, left alone, it fosters the worst tendencies of humans to stereotype and categorize from a third-person perspective.

The entire agenda of political mindfulness is undermined if segregated populations don’t have a chance to do reality testing on their presumptions through the second-person standpoint and development of sustainable interpersonal relationships. The sociological intent to shine a light on social injustice easily descends into a persistently counterproductive stereotyping of individuals as things (Martin Buber’s “I-it”). This dehumanizes a person, as such, and it creates insurmountable impediments to doing right by one's neighbor, one on one (Martin Buber’s “I-thou”), one person at a time, over time.

It would be fascinating if this forum can include testimonials if not collaborative journals of interpersonal relationships that develop through discovery of common interests and shared experiences in working for environmental justice.

Gary Riccio
Global Moderator

Religious freedom, reason and tolerance for inspiration and responsible action.

Posts: 126

Sharing fellowship, earthly joy and sadness Jun 24, 2020 5:42:48 GMT -5

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Post by Gary Riccio on Jun 24, 2020 5:42:48 GMT -5

‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ Is Really a Thing (link), an article in the New York Times

From the article:

“Ironically, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, as tragic as it is, has dramatically increased public awareness of the deep human need for nature connection, and is adding a greater sense of urgency to the movement to connect children, families and communities to nature”