Leave of absence until November
In a few days this blog will go dark, and I will not be blogging at Talking My Walk until mid-November at the earliest.
For info about the Asheville scene, I recommend Scrutiny Hooligans, bothwell’s blog and Asheville on the Ground.
For national and international politics, try Cursor.org, Informed Comment, Daily Kos and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
And for general wisdom and consciousness raising try Steve Pavalina’s blog, Steve Olson’s blog and the inimitable Shonnie Lavender.
So this isn’t goodbye; it’s just so long for a while.
Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.
Ohio–the place my deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet
The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.
Since turning 65 in April, these words from Buechner have been lurking in my consciousness. Intimations of mortality you might call it. Given that I realize I have a limited amount of time left in my current incarnation, how can I make the best use of that which remains? How can I live so that on my death bed, I can softly smile, say my goodbyes to loved ones and gently release myself from this mortal form?
You see, I lacked the courage of my convictions in my youth. In my heart I fully supported the civil rights movement, but took no action toward joining the fray. During the peace protests of the late ’60s, I grew my hair long and participated in a few marches but was content to get stoned and drink cheap wine rather than fully participating in the struggle to end the war in Viet Nam. Then I got “clean for Gene” (at least in physical appearance) during the 1968 elections and was inspired by Bobby Kennedy’s soaring speeches but never really committed to their campaigns.
So now I have a second chance to engage life fully, to leap into the unknown and trust that life will show me the way.
My life so far
If you’ve been a regular reader of this blog, you likely know that over the past couple of decades, I have worked diligently to create a fulfilling life for myself.
- After more than 12 years together and nine years of marriage, my relationship with Shonnie continues to deepen and grow stronger. We fully support one another to follow our true callings wherever they may lead.
- The book Shonnie and I co-authored, I Do! I Do! The Marriage Vow Workbook assists conscious couples in creating inspiring marriage vows that will help sustain their relationship throughout their life together.
- I enjoy supporting my readers and my clients to awaken to their personal power and their ability to create the life they want for themselves—through my writing, in one-on-one conversations or in small group settings.
- I remain excited about being a part of the eclectic, inclusive and progressive community of Asheville, North Carolina, where it’s easy for me to have a voice in local matters and I can walk or bike almost everywhere I want to go.
- I truly enjoy trail running, hiking and backpacking in the surrounding Southern Appalachian Mountains for it is here that I remember who I really am.
- At a time when many men my age are ready to retire, I remain vigorous, inquisitive, lighthearted, grateful and happy, mindful that my best days are still ahead of me.
- Finally, I resonate with Barack Obama—as a presidential candidate and as a human being. His hopeful vision for our nation and his call for citizen accountability inspired Shonnie and me to serve as Obama precinct captains for Asheville Precinct 3 where our candidate garnered 74 percent of the vote in the May 6 North Carolina Democratic primary.
A crossroads in my life
Despite all that was gratifying in my life, for the past several months I’ve known that I was at a crossroads. I’ve been clear about who I am and the gifts I have to offer. I’ve been aware that I am on this planet to be of service and to support the creation of a more compassionate, just and sustainable society. And I have resonated with the words of Buechner each time I heard them. But the place God/Allah/the Universe/Life/(insert your favorite) was calling me was not readily discernible . . . at least not yet.
So during each of my morning meditations, I sent this message out to the Universe: “I am your instrument. I am ready. Show me the way.” And though I impatiently wanted an immediate answer to my plea, I began to pay closer attention to whom and what life sent my way.
At one of my professional mastermind group meetings, I recounted my current situation, sharing that I knew I was at a transitional stage in my life. My writing and planning clients, some for whom I’d worked for years, were gradually peeling away. I spoke of my daily meditation. I talked about my experience of during the primary campaign. And when the time came for feedback, to a person, the group members supported me to follow my passion, follow Obama.
So I began to search for ways to play a bigger role in the movement popularly known as the Barack Obama presidential campaign. I spoke with and e-mailed friends and campaign staff in an unsuccessful attempt to find someone inside the organization with whom I could speak about employment opportunities. Through these efforts I did, however, find an online job application form on barackobama.com. So I completed the application, attached my resume and clicked submit without a conscious expectation that these actions would manifest the result I wanted.
My answer arrives
Last week my answer came. After a Wednesday night meeting, I checked the messages on my cell phone and found one from a phone number I didn’t recognize. It turned out to be a message from an Obama campaign staffer in Ohio stating she wanted to talk with me about a field organizer position with the campaign. We did a telephone interview Thursday morning; the staff member called my references that afternoon; and then she called back that evening to make an offer. I told her I was strongly inclined to accept but asked for 48 hours to consider the implications of this opportunity with Shonnie. The next day, I called to say YES, a decision Shonnie fully supported, but not without some reservations on both our parts regarding the three-month separation (Yes, there will be conjugal visits!). So I’ll report to work in Ohio in early August and will be there through the November 4 general election.
To those of you who have supported me on this journey of discovery, my deep gratitude. I hope all of you will keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I step into unknown territory and work to elect Barack Obama president of the United States, thereby changing the course of this nation and the world so that we turn toward a culture of connection and creative solutions to the issues we confront.
I need a car!
One final note: Since we are a one-car family, I need a serviceable automobile to use between now and November 7. If you have (or know of) a car that I could use, lease or purchase, please let me know as soon as possible. You could, if you’re so moved, to consider this a way you can support the Obama campaign.
YES WE CAN!
Related posts
My Story and I’m sticking with it
Blessing my past and letting it go
Obama calls on us to help change the nation
Wednesday, July 16th, 2008Where the hell is Matt?
If you haven’t watched this dancing fool yet (4,475,484 people have so far), do yourself a favor and click on the link below to watch Matt dance his way around the world.
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
Nick Lowe & Elvis Costello
(Lyrics below video)
As I walk through
This wicked world
Searchin’ for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself
Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?
And each time I feel like this inside,
There’s one thing I wanna know:
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
So where are the strong?
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.
‘Cause each time I feel it slippin’ away, just makes me wanna cry.
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding? Ohhhh
What’s so funny ’bout peace love & understanding?
Dave Barry’s birthday
Today is Dave Barry’s birthday. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Dave, for 25 years he wrote a syndicated humor column that appeared in more than 500 newspapers nationwide. Some wisdom from Dave on his special day (the first two quotations via The Writer’s Almanac):
You can only be young once. But you can always be immature.
Never under any circumstances take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.
Hobbies of any kind are boring except to people who have the same hobby. This is also true of religion, although you will not find me saying so in print.
I have been a gigantic Rolling Stones fan since approximately the Spanish-American War.
If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be ‘meetings.’
Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance.
Happy birthday, Dave, and have a glorious Independence Day Eve as well!
Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
