Hi Cameron I really appreciate the concept of "islands of coherence" and the questions you ask. My work with the church, my prayers with my colleagues, and my new practice of watercolor painting which is helping me see differently has all provided a "safe shore" for me in chaotic waters. I also recommend to you the work of Debra Rienstrea who has written about the concept of "refugia" in both a biological sense (the pocket of grass and seeds that survives a volcanic explosion and brings life back to the land) and in the spiritual sense (churches that offer respite, new life, hope, safety in explosive times). https://debrarienstra.com/refugia-faith/
Tina, I love that you mention Debra Rienstrea's work. A colleague connected us, and I have just finished reading "Refugia." Wonderful book and small world!
Yes to all of this. Your questions for all of us are so important. I am facilitating and/or involved with several sustained caring conversations around living into this rapid, anthropogenic extinction event with love, compassion, purpose, and joy. We are a part of an ongoing creation process. We have been invited to be co-creators even though we have mortally wounded Mother Earth, who is the very living body of God. We are not invited to be in control or to be in charge.
We are invited to co- create with humility and tender empathy for the whole beloved community of life. This is the way.
We must remember that the island of coherence within which we live and move and have our being is the living biosphere of earth, and the larger body of the universe.
If we do not recognize the very body of the risen Christ in every handful of soil, we do not yet know Jesus Christ at all. Let us not continue to crucify humanity and Mother Earth upon the Cross of Iron. Resurrection comes from absolute commitment and absolute vulnerability as we live into this time of great disruption.
Many little arks of sanity in the storm may bring many miracles….
I could not agree more, Gary. Beautifully put. It is the ecological crisis that concerns me most. The harm we are causing to all of creation is madness and heartbreaking.
My "island of coherence" is working with Fairplay for Kids, Fairplayforkids.org, in spreading awareness about social media and other internet platform use on the mental health of children and teens. So much of our stress is due to technology advances in the last 20 years. Learning how to use these technologies in a manner that does not contribute to one's own stress is key.
Simple (but NOT easy) First steps:
***Research studies show that after 1 hour of social media use, individuals of any age experience increased stress and depression. So--regulate your screen time.
***Turn off notifications on your phone for everything except calls and texts. Constant visual and tactile stimulation increases stress. Minimizing these distractions will automatically reduce stress.
I am in the midst of revamping my website, however, if you are looking for peer-reviewed research articles documenting social media downsides, articles published by entities that follow accepted journalistic standards and lists of non-profit organizations working to make social media safer for everyone, please see:
Hi Cameron I really appreciate the concept of "islands of coherence" and the questions you ask. My work with the church, my prayers with my colleagues, and my new practice of watercolor painting which is helping me see differently has all provided a "safe shore" for me in chaotic waters. I also recommend to you the work of Debra Rienstrea who has written about the concept of "refugia" in both a biological sense (the pocket of grass and seeds that survives a volcanic explosion and brings life back to the land) and in the spiritual sense (churches that offer respite, new life, hope, safety in explosive times). https://debrarienstra.com/refugia-faith/
Tina, I love that you mention Debra Rienstrea's work. A colleague connected us, and I have just finished reading "Refugia." Wonderful book and small world!
Yes to all of this. Your questions for all of us are so important. I am facilitating and/or involved with several sustained caring conversations around living into this rapid, anthropogenic extinction event with love, compassion, purpose, and joy. We are a part of an ongoing creation process. We have been invited to be co-creators even though we have mortally wounded Mother Earth, who is the very living body of God. We are not invited to be in control or to be in charge.
We are invited to co- create with humility and tender empathy for the whole beloved community of life. This is the way.
We must remember that the island of coherence within which we live and move and have our being is the living biosphere of earth, and the larger body of the universe.
If we do not recognize the very body of the risen Christ in every handful of soil, we do not yet know Jesus Christ at all. Let us not continue to crucify humanity and Mother Earth upon the Cross of Iron. Resurrection comes from absolute commitment and absolute vulnerability as we live into this time of great disruption.
Many little arks of sanity in the storm may bring many miracles….
I could not agree more, Gary. Beautifully put. It is the ecological crisis that concerns me most. The harm we are causing to all of creation is madness and heartbreaking.
My "island of coherence" is working with Fairplay for Kids, Fairplayforkids.org, in spreading awareness about social media and other internet platform use on the mental health of children and teens. So much of our stress is due to technology advances in the last 20 years. Learning how to use these technologies in a manner that does not contribute to one's own stress is key.
Simple (but NOT easy) First steps:
***Research studies show that after 1 hour of social media use, individuals of any age experience increased stress and depression. So--regulate your screen time.
***Turn off notifications on your phone for everything except calls and texts. Constant visual and tactile stimulation increases stress. Minimizing these distractions will automatically reduce stress.
I am in the midst of revamping my website, however, if you are looking for peer-reviewed research articles documenting social media downsides, articles published by entities that follow accepted journalistic standards and lists of non-profit organizations working to make social media safer for everyone, please see:
socialmediaharms.org
I don 't want your $$, I just want life to be better for everyone.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Praise and thanksgiving to God for the insight and words you share today and everyday. Thank you.
Meg Wheatley talks of “islands of sanity”
Thank you thank you thank you thank you!
Many thanks for this. We need your wisdom here in Germany.