Kathy, Tenneson and Jerry were joined by guest Janet Trump in this edition of Shades of Life. The conversation began with Tenneson reading a short passage from Christina Baldwin's book Story Catching on how "life hangs on a narrative thread". We talked about the power of story in creating connection, belonging and community and the nature of the story influences the nature of that connection or community.
We reflected a bit on current times and fragmentation and how it might be necessary to enable us to come together (after) for a more collective story. We mused about whether this is actually generative. We noted that our conversation and this time in society can be looked at through the lens of the chaordic path (chaos, order, control) - and that there are some stirring up chaos as a rationale for control while others are looking to walk the place that provides order, direction and purpose.
Then, there was the role of symbols in creating connection - including music. And Janet left us with the metaphor of Blue Jays - how she encounters them in the woods where she lives and how her sister encounters them at the bird feeder in a more populated area (you'll have to watch the video to hear what she says) and that asshole and caring community all exist in the same species. It does not have to be either/or.