Our puppy Bingo met her first frisbee yesterday. This unidentified flying object, lying dormant in our backyard, evoked great fear and trepidation on the part of our 16 week old Labrador Retriever. Yet within minutes, once she felt more familiar and safe, Bingo eagerly embraced the frisbee among the collection of toys that occupy her time (and her teething mouth!) while outside.
Bingo’s reaction reminded me of our common primal response to surprise, especially that which might impact our well-being. Fear and anxiety may abound, yet with time, trust and relationships, newness can become known and can feel comfortable. I am leaning into some significant change management at work and so I take this lesson from Bingo to heart. And of course, my home life is a series of constant change management given the lives of our teens/pre-teens. God is good with life’s lessons everywhere…when I pay attention.
I am pleased to share this poem below that I came across earlier this week. It supports my own understanding of “Belonging,” and I especially appreciate the notion of “roundtabling.” May we each embrace this invitation to “roundtable” in our own communities. Enjoy and blessings on your week ahead!
From “In Search of a Roundtable” (1977)
For God has called a People,
not ‘them and us’
‘Them and us’ are unable to gather around,
for at a roundtable, there are no sides
And ALL are invited to wholeness and to food. …
Roundtabling means no preferred seating,
no first & last,
no better,
no corners for ‘the least of these’
Roundtabling means being with,
a part of,
together,
and one
It means room for the Spirit and gifts
and disturbing profound peace for all.
And it is we in the present
who are mixing and kneading the dough for the future.
We can no longer prepare for the past. …
—Chuck Lathrop
Keeping the Faith 