Beliefs, relationships, and emotions

“Let us see the beauty every day, and source our lives from its presence.” From our singing last week.

One of my favorite parts about doing spiritual and religious organizing amongst progressives is when people find me and, often in hushed tones, admit that they too are interested in these topics. It happened last week, at just the right time, and caught me entirely off guard.

I had been feeling a bit down. Last Sunday’s dinner was great. The food was delicious, and the music was amazing. But it was a smaller crowd than in the past, and it got me wondering if there is really a need for this type of thing, and if there is, how we can be better at meeting that need, in ways that are compelling enough that people show up again and again.

And then I got to talk to a labour movement activist at a party about his Buddhist practices, and it reminds me that it’s an important conversation. That our work for a better world is fed by beliefs, relationships, and emotions. And that the better we understand those pieces, the better we will be at caring for ourselves and others along the way. And the better are able to articulate those pieces, the more successful we will be at building large and lasting movements that create real change.

I’m still not sure we’ve got the model right. People are busy, and maybe dinner and music and conversation isn’t enough of a draw, or maybe Sunday evenings are the wrong time, or maybe numbers just ebb-and-flow. I’d be happy to hear your thoughts.

But for now we’ll keep it up. Come have dinner with us next month. It’d be lovely to eat and sing and lovingly conspire with you. Click here to RSVP.

Chris

Rising Tide Launch
Rising Tide – Vancouver Coast Salish Territories is a new organization building grassroots solidarity and resistence around proposed pipeline development on Indigenous land. October 15th, Rising Tide is hosting a dinner and discussion, starting at 5:30pm, at Grandview Calvary Church. You can find out more about the event here.

Faith & Social Action
The Interfaith Institute for Justice, Peace and Social Movements is hosting a dialogue on faith-based Indigenous Solidarity. It’s the third in a series of intentional conversations they are hosting, engaging activists and people of faith. This one happens Oct 18th, 6:30-8:30pm at the Rhizome Cafe. For more information and to RSVP, email interf@sfu.ca.