New Orientation

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I almost always know what direction I am facing. As I write this, I am facing north by northeast. I learned this skill when I was driving a wheat truck in sixth grade.

The farm I worked on was in the Palouse hills, and the farmers owned thousands of acres. They would tell me to go to the southwest corner of a particular field so they could transfer the wheat from the combine into the truck. Several times, I got confused about where to go and ended up on the wrong side of the field. This slowed our work down, and during harvest that is not a good thing.

So, I learned to always know which direction I am facing and how to map out terrain in my head. But when I lose my sense of direction, I feel very disoriented.

I feel that way right now with all that is happening in our society and the world. I imagine many of you feel the same.

When I go to a new area, I like to find a high hill, notice the time and where the sun or moon is, and take some time to breathe and let the compass sink into my body.

I am doing the same thing right now regarding what is happening in our society and the world.

As the Executive Director, I know what we are doing:

  • The Potluck Project
  • Let’s Go Together
  • Media
  • Youth Engagement.

How we move in the ever-changing terrain of our society with these efforts – that is what I am thinking about right now.

I do know that we are too lonely. I do know that groups are isolated from one another. I do know that people in different generations are not connected. I do know that we need positive examples in the media about how we can know and respect each other.

When I took this job, I told co-founder Father William Treacy and the board of directors that we would pick a direction and be determined, strategic, and playful in getting there.

This is a disorienting time. That is okay. Let’s all go to the top of the hill, see where we are, and remember what we value, who we are, and where we want to go. Let’s give ourselves some time to orient ourselves, and then let’s keep moving.