[Dialogue] question to ponder

[Nancy Lanphear]

Dear Ones,

WHERE DID OUR SINGING AS AN ORDER COME FROM ?  WAS IT THE CHURCH?  WAS IT
FROM MOVEMENT BUILDING ACTIVITIES?  One of our Songaians asked that question
of us - he had given a tour today and was asked?  Please respond with
answers or just your own stories.  I would love to hear from you about a
spiritual practice that has opened so many hearts and places of energy, and
at times literally kept us alive.

This has been a big week here at Songaia!  The national Cohousing conference
is being held in Seattle this year and the executive director lives here.
He has enlisted most of us to contribute in one or many ways during the
week.

On Monday night we hosted the International Summit group from the conference
which translated into 38 folks from the group at dinner in our common house
along with the 30 of us Songaians.  Of course we were our authentic selves
and had singing, introductions, a birthday celebration with questions, and a
fantastic meal -  a joyful time was had by all.

I led the singing and included Consider Yourself, This Little Light of Mine,
and Oh, Mr. Sun and Russian Hymn for the Earth - the first was a song of
welcome and the others, in acknowledgement of Summer Solstice and the wonder
of gathering as Earthlings.  We ate in honor of communitarians and those who
had not yet found themselves enveloped in a welcoming community.

Following the meal we celebrated one member's birthday.  His name is Nartano
and as he has been so moved by the ritual around each members birthday, he
wanted to share the ritual with our guests.  Fred asked the questions of him
and then shared words that recognized Nartano's role in the community.

We closed the evening by singing the Irish Blessing to our guests.  They
left with tears and smiles of joy and hope that if we could share the values
of our community lifestyle with the world, it would be a more peaceful place
to live.

Yesterday, Fred was awarded the Geoph Kozeny Award for a life of
communitarian activities.  Our friend Geoph died a year ago with cancer.
Fred was so honored to be the first recipient of the award.

Today, we hosted 40 people who were on a cohousing community bus tour.  They
came for lunch and a tour of Songaia.  Again, we sang before lunch, they
joined in with great gusto!

Fred continues to be his spirited, wonderfilled self.  The huge limitations
of movement and dextarity frustrate him but he keeps finding new ways to
type - he now uses his thumbs and a voice activated computer program.
SINGING here at Songaia and at church is a lifeline for him.  Somehow with
his breathing capacity greatly diminished, he still sings with joy and twice
as many breaths.  At his ALS diagnosis 1 1/2 years ago, he promised me we
would still be together to celebrate the journey of the 2 of us and the life
of our family. We are celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on July 4th
with family and our community.

We are so very grateful to be living in our community of Songaia.  And we
are grateful for you,  our spirit community of many years.  Take care and
remember that you are all loved,

Nancy
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