Dear Friends,
As we process the violence and upheaval taking place in our nation’s capital, our hearts are with D.C. and also with each other. Feelings of anger, pain, grief, anxiety, shock, and numbness all make sense as we witness these events and many feel traumatized. It’s difficult to grapple with the uncertainty as well. Whatever we’re experiencing, I hope we feel accompanied and upheld by what we hold most closely — the people most beloved to us and the values we seek to embody.
I think about communities and people embodying their values in action. People have risen to this, are rising to this, and will rise to this. Our visions and values are practiced in our homes, present in our workplaces, and active in the streets. They are expressed within our relationships.
May the connections between us say yes to the care between us.
We may need this care today and in the upcoming days. How do we put feelings into words? How do we navigate the daily tasks of living in a remarkably divided nation and world? What do we say, and how do we act? These questions resound and linger.
May the connections between us say yes to the care between us.
We are not alone, and in these days, I hope that you find care and encouragement among you, even amidst fear and heartache. I hope that when we feel that little nudge within us — “Call this person,” “Receive what you need,” “Take space,” “Drop off that meal,” “Write that post,” “Say what needs to be said,” “Send that text,” “Listen,” and, “Pause” — we will feel connected and guided.
Our connections lead to care. Our care connects us to the most foundational parts of what make us human. May we be accompanied and upheld by what we hold most closely — the people most beloved to us and the values we seek to embody.
Connection and care to you,
Renee
Smuggling Grace 