Dear Friends,
Every week is a strange lifetime these days. Yes, in fear and sadness, but also in discovery, don’t you think? As I continue pushing through my normal work, I have been filling the other hours with so much good reading and music. One piece that stumbled into my life this week? This interview from the Examined Family, interviewing Selena Sermeno. Sermeno is a psychologist with a particular focus on the impact of war on child development and the consequences of trauma more broadly. In it, Courtney Martin asks her a question that can serve us all right now:
What have you noticed about those who manage to experience trauma with the most resilience?
As someone rooted in Godly Play, one of Sermeno’s answers particularly struck me. Of these deeply traumatized young people, she said that the most resilient were the ones who, “have practices for creativity and play. They find joy in the unexpected.”
The other day, I walked out my door to take the garbage out and the air smelled of flowers. Another day, I danced in my backyard, discovering an ant, and made it my dance partner. As we like to ask, I wonder what unexpected things you are noticing? What practices of play are you cultivating?
As I said above, I’ve been dancing. Dancing is one of my main forms of play, not so much traditional forms as the chaotic exploration of space found in Contact Improvisation. Going back to last week’s letter, this is a practice that helps me regulate my nervous system. It also probably looks like something you’d tell your children to stop doing right now, before they hurt someone or break something. Despite the chaos, it’s got some powerful takeaways.
In this documentary excerpt, one of the original participants in the form says an incredibly wise thing - “The Earth is bigger than you, so start coordinating with it.”
Isn’t that the truth! Now fill in God in that sentence. Our task is to stop resisting God’s will and to coordinate and collaborate with that will, and that’s got me thinking about Pentecost.
Pentecost is still a few weeks away, but it’s the first story I’m hoping to share digitally with my current community via video since I think I can craft it at home. If you don’t know how Godly Play sets us up for Pentecost, here’s a primer - it starts with the Tower of Babel. Babel, when we coordinated with each other, but not with God. When a common language gave us power, but not wisdom. It’s only through the arrival of the Holy Spirit that we regain that commonality, but with the benefit of God’s wisdom.
So, how do we use that wisdom? Earlier this week I shared the song “Warriors and Worriers” by Crys Matthews on Twitter, noting how important the way we speak to children is, especially now. What are they hearing? And who do those messages encourage them to be? I commend this song to you as something to lift you up in your own efforts.
Another thing that Selena Sermeno says in her interview with Courtney Martin is that, those young people who are most resilient in the face of trauma are those engaged in good works. Sometimes this starts small with the knowledge of your community. With the story of Babel in mind, this is a good time to explore the languages spoken where you live. You kids may have some insights into this from their classmates. Local statistics will tell you a lot. How do linguistic divisions shape service and community.
And finally, a favorite read: Be/Hold: A Friendship Book by Shira Erlichman. It’s also, well, a book about compound words, but Shira is a brilliant poet and the book is a beautiful vision of support and togetherness. As she puts it, “if you get overwhelmed and overflow, I’ll be your touchstone. I’ll be a whole riverbed of touches.” I can’t say enough good things about it.
Be Well. Explore. Coordinate with God/Earth,
A. Bird