Month: April 2025

On my way into a restaurant the other day, I interrupted a middle-aged man who was leaning in to talk to the young hostess. The situation made me so uncomfortable that I walked around him and stood where she could see me. She immediately slipped into business mode, and asked me questions about seating. As the man started to walk out, he said, “well, if I don’t see you, I hope you have a great rest of your life.”

After lunch, I asked the hostess if he had been hitting on her. “Oh, ick, I’m 17.” “Exactly,” I said. She looked a little troubled and then confided she no longer felt safe going into some stores and visiting certain areas of the Valley. She and I then had a conversation and did a little role-playing in the empty entrance about occupying her space when there were bullies around.

Continue reading “We all Need Safe, Peaceful Community”

In the month of February, I was privileged to spend two weeks in Antarctica. During the lead-up to the trip we were coached on the things that would make our trip the most enjoyable and personally profitable. At the top of the list was Safety. Safety would guide all our movements. If at any moment a boat ride or a landing became unsafe, the outing would be aborted, and we would return to the boat immediately. When the boat rocked and rolled while crossing the Drake Passage, I really gained a visceral understanding of the meaning of safety. Passengers remembered to stay in contact with a wall, to latch doors after ourselves, not to leave precious objects unsecured. It’s a challenge to feel Peace when a ship is rocking and rolling, yet trusting the advice and skills of the crew make it a possibility.

Continue reading “Creating Safe, Peaceful Community”