Listen more, open deeper...
Call Summary:
Janessa opened our call honoring Juneteenth, Freedom Day. Then we turned to Paulette Pipe to ground our time together with an opening meditation that called forth stillness amidst noise and distraction. Stephen DeBerry moved our group into a space that explored economic inequality, architectured segregation, and the lessons he learned in a game of Monopoly with his family - we can allow ourselves to rest in the understanding that if we can play nice, we can go further, faster, with fewer tears.
We transitioned into breakout rooms to explore where we are feeling coherence and where we are feeling resistance and listened to heartfelt reflections from those encouraged by the younger generation, looking for ways to connect through common stories, and discovering how the body can be used as tools for transforming thought and expression.
Stephen, moved by the faces and voices of our community of peacebuilders, left us with a charge. Dr. King's prophetic vision was over 50 years ago...so let's get it done. There is a need to have that next prophetic vision. How can we move forward in a new and better way. It's time to fundamentally change structures and push out our imagination of a global community. Paulette brought us into closing with a final blessing, we were asked, "who are you willing to be to create extraordinary transformation and change?
We are so grateful for this special opportunity to lean into this listening space and open deeply with unbounded curiosity and deep love for this one human family.
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FULL NOTES from our June Call
Janessa Gans Wilder, Founder of Euphrates opened the call with a warm welcome on Juneteenth. a day to commemorate the ending of slavery. Janessa reminded us why we are coming together on the topic of racial injustice and deep listening. As a community of global peacebuilders, Euphrates has mainly been focused internationally. We are asking ourselves why has it taken us so long to focus on race issues in the United States? Our international community has reached out as many have been in shock over the racism and the current events in the U.S. It has been a reminder that we are all in this together and what affects the one affects the whole. Janessa shared the Martin Luther King Jr (MLK) quote, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
Reverend Paulette Pipe, host of Touching the Stillness and “Keeper of the flame” led an opening mediation and welcome. This centering time was an offer to move past the distractions that attempt to bring us away from that stillness that is indeed present. In a time of othering and disintegration, allow for coherence and forming a unified whole.
Stephen DeBerry, Founder of Bronze Investments began his time exploring some ideas from MLK’s book, Why we Can’t Wait. Most people associate Dr. King with civil rights work, but there is an underappreciation of the work toward the end of his life which looked at economic inequality. On the day MLK was killed, he was working on organizing white sanitation workers. This speaks to the mutuality and people who are marginalized need to be pulled back in. Dr. King was also organizing a boycott. So why the recent deaths, particularly of George Floyd? It goes back to economics and the counterfeit $20. It is the same conversation MLK was having on why we can’t wait. Economics is not the only thing to focus on, but it is a central issue we must address.
Stephen also shared about Eastside communities. Most of the cities in the United States were built during legal segregation - where there are “haves” and “have nots”. We view divided cities as being natural, but this division was and still is architected. We were intentionally socialized to believe that it was a natural division. We are bound up in mutuality and we should not be subscribing to these notions that we should be segregated from each other.
Stephen’s theme of economics carried into his heartwarming story playing Monopoly with his two daughters. As each of them lost their monopoly money and got upset, Stephen held his daughters on his lap and shared his resources. The unintended consequence was now they were ganging up on his wife! Stephen realized he (we!) might be playing it the wrong way. He realized there is no reason for us to be playing against each other. If we all came together and combined resources we could play the game differently. We could just slow down, commit to loving each other, and acknowledge we already have all the resources, not the bank. We can allow ourselves to rest in the understanding that if we can play nice, we can go further, faster, with fewer tears. We need to remember the economic and moral strength we have when we lock arms and work together.
Breakout room discussions
The community broke out into small groups to discuss:
What is coming up for your right now?
Where are you being drawn in and feeling coherence?
Where are you feeling resistance?
When we returned from the small group discuss a few members of the community shared:
Charles Gibbs – There is so much reason to despair, but also so much reason for hope. Take lessons from the younger generation who are open to diversity. I need this as part of my curriculum to be schooled by the younger generation. MLK gave his last Sunday sermon at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. in 1968, titled Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution that calls for us to develop a world perspective, eradicate last vestiges of racial injustice, rid the world of poverty and war. In 2020, these issues still remain.
Jasky Sor shared his experience with racism as a person of Chinese ancestry living in Paris. Jasky asked, how can I relate to the sufferings of people I don’t know? How can I relate to the suffering of black people and how can I engage? I want to let go of my identity and connect with something more profound.
Sally Mahe – Noticed the body positioning being used as a reminder - Stephen holding his children on his lap, and her small group discussion brought up the opposable thumb that allows us to grab. The hand can also spread out, open. Jasky’s bowing practice is another reminder. Our bodies can be a tool and we have choices for how we express ourselves. Where is coherence for you? Is it in a feeling, an experience of synchronicity? Strength in understanding that coherence is what we are about.
Stephen shared again - here are some of the discussion points:
Joy and friendship is so important and powerful!
It has been 52 years since Dr. King laid out the blueprint...let's go finish it. That is what we are birthing right now.
There is a need to have that next prophetic vision – plan for how we go forward in a new and better way. It's time to fundamentally change structures and define new connections. Push out our imagination of what could be.
There is a trend towards nationalism – we should interrogate this notion of the nation and this assumption we have that nationhood is bound to place.
What if we finish the work of Dr. King and what could we do differently? We have the power and authority to imagine it right now. I see the nation I am talking about: people who are peace loving, creative, beautiful, and full of joy. It’s possible for us to declare we will stand with each other. Take the capital and resources and use for our collective and common interests, bind ourselves in community that is not tied to a particular geography. This is worthy of our energy and attention for the next 50 years. This is the nation - the dance party! - I want to be a part of!
Paulette brought us back to the heart space with an invitation to feel the joy of community and connection, experience our oneness. We each have a gift, blessing, a contribution to make. In the joy space in your heart ask: Who are you willing to be to create extraordinary transformation and change that begins with each of us as individuals? Breath into question, avoid temptation to grasp ideas from the mental mind. Listen as the heart speaks
Let inner wisdom guide and direct our way. When we feel discomfort, unsure, may we go back to the heart space of joy, let inner wisdom guide, govern and direct. We all have something to offer. May we do so with clarity, curiosity, deep listening and intentionality.