[Oe List ...] silver rings

[Nancy Lanphear]

Dear Ones,

Mike Tippett mentioned in his email about the silver ring he found in the
drawer and what it means to him.

 I, too have a story about the silver rings that Fred and I bought in Nairob
and have been wearing ever since that day in 1977 when Joe died.  When we
purchased them, our story was that it symbolized a shift in the Order from
"a single" leader to that of a rotational and team leadership.  Knowing that
we had already initiated the "panjayat" dynamic, Joe's death truly marked a
change and challenge for us all.

When the Order "went out of existence",  Fred and I continued to wear our
Order silver rings purely as a symbol until we began the design and building
of Songaia.  The rings took on a different but significant and similar
meaning, they were symbols of intentional community.  I have worn mine since
the day Fred first put it on my finger.  Now, Fred's story is a bit
different.  A couple of years ago as he was less able to use his hands, they
began to swell and the ring no longer fit, or actually it began to cut off
the circulation to his finger. I was able to get it off and PUT IT IN A
DRAWER!  As his hands began to loose muscle tone, they were thinner and
ready for the ring to fit.  Alas!  I could not find it!  So, after deciding
that he would wear his silver ring and his wedding ring into eternity, I
bought him a new one.  The story does not end there. Mine continues to hold
history of the Order, traditions of symbolic rings and the wonder of
community!

When our son Bruce was in Maliwada back in 1984, he had the silver smith in
the village make him a ring. He called his the TRUTH ring  I do not know
exactly what his truth came to be.  When Ella, Bruce and Nancy's second
daughter returned from her Coming of Age journey, they presented her with a
silver ring.  She was to name her TRUTH upon experiencing and naming the
meaning.  And so, the story goes on ....it has become one of our family
traditions.

And so, colleagues, be watchful when you begin another series of
conversations!  Others of us will pick it up and run with it!  Isn't it
grand?

With love and in community,

Nancy
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