Dream and awaken in the new year
Saturday, December 31, 2011 at 07:30AM Dear friends,
On this last day of 2011, we write to share with you a few brief reflections and to ask for your support of our work. Your contributions make all the difference and we are deeply grateful for those of you who have already made a gift this year.
On Thursday, the New York Times Online published an opinion piece entitled The Joy of Quiet by Pico Iyer. Mr. Iyer mused on the irony of how the need for quiet, stillness, and disconnection seems to be growing in urgency as we create more and more technology aimed at streaming constant sound, motion, and methods of virtual connection into our lives.
Just as Mr. Iyer does in his article, our programs at Still Harbor pull on the teachings and wisdom of faith, philosophical, and pedagogical traditions of contemplative practice to promote ways of integrating reflection and discernment techniques into our daily lives and work. As we transition into a new year, we deeply appreciate seeing these topics being addressed in mainstream media outlets. We are even more deeply grateful that you are among those who have embraced our vision at this early stage in Still Harbor's story.
Henry David Thoreau wrote, "Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake." And Carl Jung wrote, "Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes." These notions combined mean to us that, as Mr. Iyer points out, the ability to integrate an outward and an inward gaze by making time for contemplative quiet is not just nice but is essential. This is precisely why Still Harbor was founded. We are hoping to encourage individuals and organizations committed to social justice service to dream awake.
Thank you to those of you who have already generously supported us during this season of giving. For those of you who have not yet made a 2011 gift, please consider showing your support for our vision and work now by making a contribution. Your donations, no matter the size, will enable us to launch 2012 with as much energy as we are wrapping up 2011. Make your donation online or by mail today.
With our deep gratitude,
Ed, Perry, Colleen, Arville, and the rest of the community at Still Harbor
Carl Jung, Henry David Thoreau, NY Times, Pico Iyer December Reflections: Paradox and Wisdom
Friday, December 30, 2011 at 03:20PM A few of us at Still Harbor have been reading a book called Falling Upward by Father Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who has written extensively on spirituality and who founded a Center for Action and Contemplation in New Mexico. In the introduction, Rohr writes: “If there is such a thing as human perfection, it seems to emerge precisely from how we handle the imperfection that is everywhere, especially our own… In fact, I would say that the demand for the perfect is the greatest enemy of the good. Perfection is a mathematical or divine concept, goodness is a beautiful human concept that includes us all.”
A reflection, a report, a request
Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 08:56PM Dear friends,
Some of you have received this letter and report from us in the mail. Whether in hard copy or via this email, we hope you will take a moment at this time of generosity and reflection to read some end-of-year thoughts from us. We continue to be inspired by your participation in and support of Still Harbor. If you are moved by the progress we have made this year, we ask that you please consider making a financial contribution to our work as we strive to launch our 2012 programming with a strong and growing sense of energy and renewal.
With our warmest regards,
Ed, Perry, and the Still Harbor team
A reflection, a report, and a request
“It is a long baptism into the seas of humankind, my daughter. Better immersion and in pain than to live untouched. Yet how will you sustain?” -- excerpt from, “O Yes,” a short story by Tillie Olsen.
These are the thoughts of a mother as she reflects on her white daughter’s status-quo breaking friendship with a girl who is black in the United States of the 1950s. In these words, there is a profound recognition that the very relationship that will bring her daughter connection and awakening will also bring her suffering.
Whether living in the midst of the Civil Rights movement or taking part in today’s increasingly global movement for justice and equity, the feeling of being submerged in a world where one is witness to gross human inequities is quite real.
Just as many seek professional and intellectual frameworks of justice, equity, or humanity to help them act in the face of such injustice, many also look for a spirituality that grounds them with purpose, presence, and hope.
And while the word spirituality may feel private or be a trigger for some, we have found that participants in Still Harbor programs have responded positively to our approach regardless of their comfort level with spiritual concepts when they meet us.
Through our workshops and curricula, we have been able to create the space and provide the guidance for people to individually and collectively look inward at who they are, what they care about, and how they want to apply that sense of identity and purpose in the world.
We encourage you to read our progress report, in which you’ll find a more detailed overview of these programs and their impact with our partners and participants. We thank you for supporting our growth in countless ways.
You are among the visionaries who instinctively understand the value of applying contemplative—or spiritual—practice to work that serves humanity.
We hope that you will continue to show your support now by making a contribution that will help us launch 2012 with as much energy as we are wrapping up 2011. Make your donation online or by mail today.
Donations, Progress, Reflection November Reflections: Looking for the positive
Friday, December 2, 2011 at 09:00PM Do you ever have that feeling of panic when you realized you haven’t done something on time … and furthermore there is no real space to do it with any urgency? I woke up yesterday morning, realized November was over, and felt that kind of pang. For me, the feeling is always quickly followed by some mild berating and judging of myself—assuming that I’ve disappointed everyone and that I’m not good enough to gain back their approval. So, that was yesterday morning. Having my anxiety to propel me, I tried to fit in five-minute periods of concentrated writing between appointments, meetings, and responding to emails. But only bad writing and more stress came out of my fear-driven attempts.
Failure, Fear, Positivity, World AIDS Day