Lessons in Generosity

I am so glad, at this point in my life, to have a kindergarten teacher as one of my closest friends. We have been friends for several years, but only recently have I realized that the lessons she teaches the little ones in her classroom are lessons that she also passes on to me.

I've never read Robert Fulghum's All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I suspect that I have turned up my over-educated nose at its mass appeal. I, certainly, had left kindergarten in the dust long ago.

But as I've listened to my friend talk about the skills she teaches her students, I've come to understand that somehow I missed some of those kindergarten skills.

So I've begun remedial kindergarten lessons. So far, I've been learning about sharing. My friend showed up at my house, time and again, with gifts in hand. A book. Dinner, ready to be reheated and enjoyed. On my birthday, arms full of flowers.

At first I didn't know how to react. But as the barrage of generosity kept coming, I began to learn the rhythms of friendship, of free gifts and heart-felt thank-you's. I started to keep a corner of my mind open to possible gifts I could give, not only to this friend, but to others as well. She has started a domino cascade of gift-sharing among our circle of friends, and it feels great.

I can't wait to see what other lessons this friendship has in store.

It Was Evening

It was evening
when I walked through the door
marked "2."

Shutting behind me, the door whispered,
"You shall have no other..."

I shrugged off my coat,
dropped my bags,
collapsed onto the bed,
into the darkness.

When I awakened all around me was
green and light
and being--
apple trees and
bicycles and
music.

I walked further in and
the cyclist fell and the
bees collapsed
but the bright ooze
of blood and the absence
of polination were discordant pieces of
greater harmony.

And the open spaces
whispered, "There is nothing
but what is."

And it was enough.

Merry-Go-Round, One Year Later

Another year has come full circle, and I am farther along on the path toward UU ministry. I read the above post, and think about it differently now, more gently.

Yes, the path is not a straight shot, but every wandering loop is a chance to scoop up great armfuls of experience. Those who march in lock-step miss out when they wear blinders to every interesting option to the left or right.

I've learned a lot in the last year, followed passions I might not otherwise have had time for. Did some grass-roots organizing about legislation permitting the sale of raw milk here in Alaska. Read and read and read about food and farm issues. Got swept up in the incredible political drama of this year's presidential election. Volunteered. Gave money. Went to rallies. Brought salad to campaign workers who were eating nothing but pizza.

I found myself gradually becoming more involved in the Anchorage fellowship. I took more leadership in our small group, becoming the person who reminded folks when we were meeting and what we were talking about. I preached several times at the fellowship. I was asked to be on the Committee on Ministry...and now find myself chairing the committee.

I invited three other UU friends to join me in supporting a local CSA. And every Tuesday throughout this past summer the four of us met on my front deck to divide up two shares worth of local vegetables. Built some good community.

I learned how to use Facebook, and re-connected with family members, and friends from high school, college and seminary.

Do I wish I were further along? Yes. Do I wish I was being paid to do what I love? Yes, absolutely yes. Have I learned a lot? Yes.

It's all true. Every last messy, curvy bit of it.