Community building and gratitude

Twice in the past week I've found myself in the community building mode. Once at the Ma Me O beach film club, and once at a yearly meeting for the summer camp at our local little church. To the Ma Me O gathering, I took my In Transition DVD and my contribution to the pot luck. To the camp meeting I took ideas and enthusiasm. In both places I deposited, I hope, a sense of gratitude that I may participate in such heartfelt, intentional endeavours.

The Ma Me O film club gathering was the last of this season, but only my second one. Despite the fact that the In Transition DVD is from the UK and would not read to the projector, hence could not be played as our round-up for the year, I was not disappointed in the evening. We connected on deep levels, ate together and watched a short documentary on the Lubicon Indians from the Peace region in Alberta. And, despite the fact that it was only my second visit, I felt welcome.

As it turns out, I am already a part of the community of Ma Me O. While setting up, Mike, the unofficial leader and I spoke of his involvement in building a straw-bale house for Bob. Bob's family name sounded familiar and in short order we discovered that not only had I called Bob to ask him if he'd sing at an event I held at my house 4 years ago, but so had I asked Mike. Seconds later, in walked Bob, who as well as being the singer and straw-bale house owner is also the man who sold me 2 rebuilt bikes some 8 years ago. After a short discussion about this web of connection, I was introduced to a couple who in minutes we remembered I'd stopped and talked to them in front of their house last year because they have solar panels and raised garden beds in their front yard. Oh, and we knew all along that Mike is the father of my son's good friend, but we hadn't connected in person until I was invited to come to the film club. The lady who invited me, Aileen, and Ann (solar panels), and Tess, Bob's wife, are all teachers in varying degrees. I share their love of teaching. Ahh, content now. I am one with Ma Me O (and area).

The summer camp connections are more straightforward and long ago made, but worth mentioning here. I have been involved in some way for over ten years. The people who have done their part in teaching the 50-100 kids are members of my community;  I have known them since moving to Pipestone 12 years ago. These people have supported my running the craft shack and have helped me learn the skill of teaching groups of kids that come in waves of excitement and enthusiasm, but in 1/2 hour stints (crazy!). This learned skill has translated into my current pursuit of teaching home school art classes. I am grateful to the adults, the kids, the community and the process.