“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing, there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.”
– Rumi
I’ve been reading all the Summer Challenge Facebook posts about composting and, frankly, there seem to be as many ways to do it as there are posts.
I bring it up because we begin Week 3 today which is all about reconnecting with a friend.
What’s the segue? Well, if I didn’t have all of you to help me learn all these ways to compost, and to prove how easy it is (and how intricate it can become), I’d never do it. That’s the power of friendship. You, my friends, taught me that I can start anywhere, best to start small
but at least start somewhere; and then… Oh the places I can go!
On 
July 4th this summer I did a workout at my beloved gym with a huge number of people. It’s called a “hero” workout during which you run a ton, do a million pull ups, push ups, and jumping on boxes and things. We do it to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. We do it because we are blessed enough to have bodies that allow us to do so. And finally, we do it because sweating and groaning with friends is far better than sweating alone. Helen Keller famously said, “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.”
As I was running and push-uping in my hot sweaty mess, I noticed, like the composting, that everyone was tackling this workout from a different angle. Everyone had different strengths and was working through different weaknesses. As we set up, people with injuries or compromised movement were sharing ideas on how to “scale” or change up the prescribed movements so they could still participate. To scale is to lower the weights or repititons or length of time so that you can succeed without causing injury. What a wonder to see us all making sure each one would succeed, no matter the background or circumstances.
Without that support, and of course the support of the trained coaches, I wouldn’t have even gone to this maddening hero workout, let alone put myself out there to fail. The lesson I learn each time we do these challenges is that there is no such thing as failing when we’re all in it together pulling each other along. But to be in it, you have to show up.
I saw that day the variety of the human body and spirit: those who were 20 years older running twice as far as me, those who were a foot shorter jumping higher and faster, and those who were heavier pulling up three times as long. I saw all shapes and sizes, ages and wills. The bottom line is that we all indeed do put our pants on one leg at a time so it’s true what the mighty say about the silliness of intimidation. We are the same in the desire to make a difference and to build community, one leg at a time.
And yet, we are unique and special in how we wear those pants. Some are spandex, some cotton, some are sparkly, some are plain, some are barely there and some cover every inch. Some pants ride up, some sag where a butt once was. Some bulge or jiggle where we wish it wouldn’t. No matter… We all showed up and we each did our part.
This whole idea played out in the composting pictures you all sent in. No matter the style, we all put our pants on one leg at a time. Some are fancy tumbler bins or beautiful wooden corrals. Others are milk jugs and open piles. The outcome is all the same, gorgeous, dark, nutrient-rich soil that leads to incredible harvests. We’re all doing our part, our way, together to make the world better.
So I thank you for reconnecting me to the multi-layered, multifaceted world of composting. Without you, I wouldn’t have remembered what this kind of work and dedication brings.
Now, I ask you, who can you reconnect with this week to build your sense of belonging and support. Who will help you do a hero’s workout or compost in style, or simply wake up to a brand new day full of options? Who inspires you? Who helps you see the joys in life? Who will walk in the dark with you?
Why “reconnect” and what does it mean? It can mean whatever you want. The joy of RE connection is often in the nostalgia. It’s always great to share and savor good memories together. Simply put, if nothing else, just be there for each other this week.
“Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. ‘Pooh?’ he whispered.
‘Yes, Piglet?’
‘Nothing,’ said Piglet, taking Pooh’s hand. ‘I just wanted to be sure of you.'”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
See you on the PATH Ahead.