I am so blessed to live in one of the most beautiful places in the continental United States. I don't particularly feel I speak out of context as we traveled over 9,000 miles of the continental US and were able to bear witness to the natural beauty and innate beauty of the people of this country in that time period. However, when Jacob and I finished our trip and we knew we wanted to relocate we reflected back on our journey and we both kept revisiting a tiny island in the Puget Sound. We really didn't even share this with each other at first and we both thought in all practicality it didn't quite make sense. When we finally met to discuss we both said, "Yes this Island is it!". A quiet Island surrounded by the mountains, land decorated with ancient trees and wildlife, and filled with a quiet unique people.
We arrived here after a cross country journey in 14 days that tested us on many levels. It was about 2 months before the pandemic. In those 2 months we befriended our local wildlife, learning the names of all our new trees on our daily walks, and joined a home school community founded by the Island School District. We were finding our place but I will be honest, I felt lonely among the people. I really had not connected with any one individual and/or group. I know that I have a strong need for community and when I am in community I feel divinely connected to my purposeful life. I was feeling disconnected in my body, mind and spirit.
I wanted to connect and so prior to the pandemic we reached out to the local Food Bank as I felt this would be a beautiful way to give back to a community that gave such natural beauty to us. See the natural beauty of this Island inspires me, the trees speak to me and lend themselves to lessons in how to be the sentient being I was designed to be. I had this raw and aching desire to give back in someway to this Island for this powerful gift. So we did and do every Tuesday as a family. We order out, watch a documentary, and spend the evening double bagging 300 paper grocery bags that will be filled with life nourishing food for members of this community during the pandemic. What is so unique about this Food Bank is they do not turn anyone away. If you feel you need food and show up at their doorstep they don't ask you to prove it. No, they welcome you with a warm smile and fill your bag with nourishing foods and your heart with warmth and a sense of belonging and the sentiment that "I matter!". I practice a mantra as I fold each bag. There are three major folds involved with this process and I pray...
Fold 1: "May your body be fed."
and
Fold 2: "May your mind be at ease."
and
Fold 3: "May your spirit be full."
Through this simple giving process I connect with the people of this Island, I connect with the people of my family and I connect with my soul. This is my prayer for this beautiful little community. This Island and community in a fundamental way holds each of its members in such loving kindness at this time. So in my giving I connect and my community gives back to me. Thank you for this beautiful gift. I wonder in what unexpected ways might we all capture a little community and connection at this time?
