“The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish, and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture around us.” ― Walter Brueggemann, Prophetic Imagination
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I led visitors from Crossroads Women’s Center in Germantown on a tour of Cranaleith’s grounds. The women have never been here before, our connection is new, and we talk about how delighted we are for the introductions made by Rasheeda, Cranaleith’s Community Engagement Coordinator. We share our excitement about our emerging partnership and when standing near the edge of Cranaleith’s labyrinth, Philipa brings my attention to the ground beneath my left shoe. “See that?” she asks me, “It’s a little plant that grows wild everywhere but is edible. We don’t even recognize that we are surrounded by food—but really, we just can’t see what is in front of us.” Her colleague and fellow community organizer, Tree Muldrow, pipes in: “I remember when my mother would rub those other leaves on our scrapes when we were kids. Isn’t it funny? I haven’t thought about that for years.” Earlier that afternoon, we had been talking about ‘big ideas’. But right now? I am looking at little bitty leaves—half hidden in the grass.
I recognize the plants. They are common, we see them growing everywhere. But before this moment? I never really thought about them. Never really noticed them. Never really paid attention.
In the last few days, Joziah, our Digital Media Manager, and Nikki, Director of Development and Marketing, and I have been reviewing all of the social media posts made in the past few months due to expressed concern that we appear ‘disconnected’ from the dissent in our world. We looked at the posts about bees and flower arranging, about human family constellations, gardening, opportunities to volunteer.
You have seen them too, of course. You are reading this newsletter, after all.
But, I wonder, have we “really seen” them? Have we been paying attention as to why we offer these programs? Have we noticed how subversive and radical making space for such quiet little moments are? Flowers? Playing with clay? Attending an overnight, silent retreat? If you aren’t paying attention, the programs may seem inconsequential, unremarkable, innocent, easy. But are they—really—only that?
When I give newcomers tours of Cranaleith’s property, I always pause for a minute in front of the opening where two natural springs burble into our little pond. “It looks like nothing,” I say to each guest, “but it is a metaphor for the whole of Cranaleith. Natural springs are found in each of us— connecting us underneath to the unseen, the Absolute Mystery, that runs beneath the surface.” And those springs? They never run dry.
Right now? We are being called to pay attention—to the injustices and cruelty of our times, to one another, to possibility, to hope. Cranaleith is the place where contemplation becomes action and supports our shared and powerful resiliency. Here, no one preaches or teaches; the Center holds the small, quiet moment where you suddenly see the purpose, the meaning, the point of it all, when you see, suddenly and unexpectedly, all the food growing under your feet, when you hear the sacred springs connecting us all together.
And when you see and hear in a new way? You can find who you are meant to be and what you are meant to do.
At Cranaleith, discover the little green leaves of a plant you’ve never noticed before. Look for tiny subversive springs that lead to roaring rivers. Pay attention and find your way to be radically resilient.
In Peace and Mercy,
Dawn L. Hayward
Executive Director
