Hi Friends,
I am currently on my last public tour. After nearly 15 years of offering myself in service in this way, it has become very, very clear to me, that this is no longer my path.
Although, I mostly feel peace and freedom in the choice, there is a little tinge of sadness knowing that I will no longer be supporting people, places, communities, animals, etc… in this way.
First stop Oklahoma. Oh my goodness. HOSPITALITY!!!! Seriously, the most wonderful, kind, generous people ever! Ever, ever, ever, ever!!!!
I am met on the side of the road by the main point person responsible for bringing me here… a little out in the middle of nowhere … in a truck, with a dog, who became instant best friend… just add “tree house” with a view, a killer sunset, and some snacks and sparkling wine. It was SUCH a wonderful way to be met especially after a long day of travel and delays.
Big view, immediate connection, and beautiful, open conversation of place and what it means to be from and of a place. These are some of the moments I will miss most about travelling—the sweet surprises and connections. I am SUCH a better person for having had these moments over all these years.
Spent the night in a perfect cabin near a lake. A piece of paradise in a part of the country so many overlook.
The next day is classroom visits, an interview by a student who is one of the most well-researched, most thoughtful people to have EVER interviewed me—literally ever, and an evening public event. The main issues are loss of prairie habitat and fracking. I sense my way through the debate over fracking—money and jobs vs. environment and threats and potential threats. I know there are people in the room who are pro-fracking and are making money from the boom there. I know that the “same-old” conversation is wearing thin for all of us—very few minds being changed—just becoming further entrenched. I am asked what I think of fracking. I take a deep breath, pray, and ask for a new way to have this conversation.
As I sense into it, what comes through for me is basically, regardless of our view on fracking—jobs vs. the environment, short-term gain at the expense of public health and safety and future genertions—regardless of where we feel we stand in the debate. Let’s look at something deeper. There is something we all can agree on because it is a known and accepted fact—carbon based energy is a FINITE resource. Why would we be investing all our brilliance, creativity, and money into a finite energy solution? What are we telling our children, their children, and all the children of the future by this choice? What our actions are ACTUALLY SAYING is that even though we have a huge amount of creativity, brilliance, money, and other resources, we are not actually willing to invest that in a system that will benefit and care for them. We are basically saying through our actions, “We covered our own butts. Good luck trying to figure out what you will do. We don’t actually care enough about you to invest what we have into making your world better. We really only care about ourselves, so best of luck figuring it out when you get here.” That is the ACTUAL translation of short-sited action—of supposed solutions based on a finite resource when we have the capacity to do better.
I saw it land… the seed planted… in some of the eyes of those who were sure we are so, so different. Things really are quite simple when we get to the heart of the matter. It’s all our headiness that makes thing get complicated.
I am not moved or inspired by the old, worn out debates. I am deeply aware that the children I will never give birth to are my children, and their lives and the quality of their lives, their world, and their planetary home are attached to the choices we make today. We are ALL ancestors of the future. We need to start behaving that way.
I have no way of truly knowing how much of a difference I actually made by being in Oklahoma. I have no way of knowing how much of a difference I have actually made in the last nearly 15 years of touring and giving all I have to give. I have no way of truly knowing how much of a difference I make anywhere really. But beyond the space of quantifiers and qualifiers, I am deeply and keenly aware that EVERY CHOICE MATTERS—BECAUSE EVERY CHOICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
And through my experience in Oklahoma, I am reminded that even the smallest actions make a BIG difference! Being met by someone with a heart as huge and generous as the prairie landscape. Being interviewed by someone who honored my life and my time by doing thorough research before the interview and not making me do her job for her (which is my experience with many people who call themselves “journalists” these days) and who also, after researching me thoroughly, brought me chai tea and homemade, joyously vegan energy bars to have so I would feel cared for in the process. For the parents who not only shared their cabin with me, but invited me back anytime I might ever want or need. To the family who opened up their home for an after-event gathering with homemade beer. All those seemingly “small” things made the hugest difference for me!
We are all ancestors of the future. Every, single choice we make matters because every single choice we make impacts the lives not only of those today, but those who will inherit whatever world and planet we leave behind.
Thank You Oklahoma for kicking my tour off with such HUGE generosity and hospitality! Truly, the hugeness of your thoughtfulness is mirrored only in the bigness of the prairie. And just like the prairie where many people say there isn’t much to see, it is under the first glance and surface where the real treasure of who you are comes to light.
So much love and gratitude,
julia
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