1 August 2007 - New Haven, Part 2

Follow-up Potluck

The day started with a walk through a New Haven neighborhood to a little cafe, where we had breakfast with our host, Fred. The day was warm and clear, the coffee strong, the conversation wide-ranging. We spoke of philosophy and religion, of art and poetry and the state of the world. It was noon by the time we returned.

I napped while Sally caught up on email, and we rested through the afternoon, in preparation for the evening. By six-thirty we were at New Haven’s other UU church, for a follow-up potluck and circle. After a nice meal of fresh veggies and fruit and real tea (not sweetened to death… so nice to be back in the North!), eighteen of us sat in circle til 10 PM. We spoke of needs and hopes, of a great desire for the sort of deep processing and relationship that is available through circle work, of what is required to make that happen. We spoke of the world to come, and of how we might navigate our way through it, of the wisdom to be found in a group, of personal strengths and weaknesses, of sadness and loss and joy and vision. The group made some moves toward figuring out how it might continue the work of circle and dialogue. Individual conversations continued even after the circle ended. As they always do…

We returned to Fred and Maria’s home, talked until 1 AM, then went to bed. A sweet night in New Haven…