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My phone reminded me that this time last year I was getting ready for a breathtaking trip to Mexico with what I thought would be a small group of friends. I ended up discovering an ever-growing, interconnected web of friendships, as strong and malleable as the roots of redwoods.
"I live my life in widening circles that reach out across the world", says the poet Rilke.
And while I can't wait to travel and meet new friends, this week I have been reminded of the circles that don't reach wider, but deeper. Relationships that don't sparkle with excitement and novelty, but carry a velvet groundedness that speaks without words, a knowing. In our small Point People community, we recently witnessed so many big moments - a wedding, losses of loved ones, a celebration of a mother-to-be. It has been so touching and beautiful to see our group come together to architect care, again and again.
We operate in systems of care, and these are also systems of love. Love! We so rarely use this word in communities, and yet it is the biggest gift that community has to offer. A few weeks ago, I attended the most beautiful celebration for a dear friend and her future baby where all guests shared a blessing - heartfelt words, poems and songs spanning across many languages and traditions. For all of us, it was an honour to be invited to such a special (virtual) room filled only one feeling - love.
I'll leave you with a Celtic wisdom from poet John O'Donohue:
Love allows understanding to dawn, and understanding is precious. Where you are understood, you are at home. Understanding nourishes belonging. When you really feel understood, you feel free to release yourself into the trust and shelter of the other person's soul.
With love,
V.
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