This is a favorite time of year for many of us. The temperatures are finally dropping, there’s a hope of some rain, the schedule is winding down a bit, and it’s the Bridge Walk plus Precepts. This year was even better than most because before going into the Bridge Walk we had a Seasons of Joy Fall retreat. Exquisite fun.
Then, as you know, the unthinkable happened. California caught on fire, the entire Bay Area was blanketed in smoke, and gathering at the Golden Gate was not possible. Such an interesting place to be. Hurricanes, a mass shooting, and wild fires in addition to the regular, every day difficulties so many people are dealing with…. Feeling sorry for us is simply not an option. And yet, it’s disappointing. Other than New Year’s and Precepts the Bridge Walk is our biggest party of the year!
Still, it wasn’t as disappointing as it might have been in other years. The campaign itself, “150 K for Africa,” was such a party that getting together in person was more like (what’s a good simile?). Conference calls and video get-togethers with the team in Kantolomba made the whole process festive.
In fact, the Bridge Walk process exemplified some of our most familiar Practice tenets: We never know. Now is all we have. Don’t postpone joy.
We had a great time getting together our teams, setting our goals, coming up with our strategies, and supporting one another to get past any of ego’s stumbling blocks. And, we certainly got to experience the truth of “the process is the outcome.” What we did is what we got. And what we got is GOOD.
Even without the drumming, the dancing, and the walk across the bridge, we can all say a heartfelt “thank you” for a Bridge Walk season well done!
In gassho,
ch