Ancient Needs

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Ancient Needs

by Barry Fraser

It has been many weeks since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, and the sadness and uncertainty still lingers as we go through the routine of our everyday lives. Outwardly life has not changed, but for many, the world feels different, similar to the way it feels after the death of a close friend or family member. It's that familiar feeling of disorientation and uncertainty that always accompanies the major transitions and transformation in our lives.

As the haze of apprehension and disbelief has slowly begun to lift, the deeper questions and reflection that such monumental events evoke begin to emerge. What now? How will the events of the last few weeks change our lives? What does it all mean? What is the lesson in all this?

For me, part of the answer to these questions came during the afternoon of the attack. Like many others in Tallahassee I was at work when the events of the attack began to unfold. As the morning progressed, and as the enormity of the event began to become clear, I felt this overwhelming need to be close to my loved ones, and so I drove home to be with my family. I was not alone. All over the city many were leaving to find comfort and security in the company of friends and family.

That afternoon, like thousands of others, my wife and 16-year-old daughter sat close holding each other watching the horror unfold on the TV screen. All over the country, people came together with each other in community to be with and to comfort one another, each expressing our ancient need for human contact and connection. And even though the motivation was a tragic event, we were again reminded of what really is most important in our lives. It's not our monetary wealth, our career, our status or our material possessions. It is our need for each other.

And so in this time of questioning and transformation, and with the knowledge that we are intimately bound to all of Earth's inhabitants as a part of the sacred web of life, I invite you to join us for a workshop to come together to explore the questions so that we may act in more loving ways toward the earth and our fellow human beings.

As the Dalai Lama has said, "These are the questions we have failed to answer for thousands of years. Failure to answer them now could eliminate the need to answer them at all."

Come join us as we explore, together, how each of us can respond to this crisis in a way that evokes the best of our community and the best of America. Let's not do this alone. We need each other.

Workshop: Evoking the Best in Response to the Worst: What We Can Do

In the days following September 11, we have been called "our beloved Americans" by people all over the globe. Many countries grieved with us and declared a day of mourning. Bishop Storey of South Africa wrote, "There is something deeply stirring about the capacity of the American people to mobilize for good." We have been consoled and counseled by many wise and thoughtful people. They approach us as global citizens. How will we respond to their love for us, and their faith in what is possible?

Through speakers, video, and small group interaction, we will explore some of the questions arising from the September 11 tragedy:

How could this happen?

How has our relationship with the countries of the Middle East been affected by our dependency on oil?

How do we respond wisely, in our communities and nationally, when our security is severely shaken?

How do we expand from self, to family, to village, to recognizing humanity as a single tribe?

Can our hearts grow from this crisis? What are the roots of courage, of wisdom?

Knowing that we are each being called upon to do our very best, please join us as we explore these questions in order that we may act in more loving ways toward the earth and our fellow human beings.

Workshop Presenters: Heart of the Earth Council is a small group of citizens committed to environmental stewardship in the Red Hills and Gulf Coastal Lowlands bioregions. We believe not only that each one of us can make a difference in protecting earth's resources, but also that we are intimately bound to all of Earth's inhabitants as a part of the sacred web of life.

"In the past year, we, as founders of Heart of the Earth, have seen many individuals give support to our belief that each of us can be leaders by putting the long-term interests of our global community at the forefront in making personal decisions. In this spirit, we offer a workshop to explore how each of us can respond to this crisis in a way that evokes the best of our community and the best of America."

Heart of the Earth Council

Norine Cardea
Susan Cerulean
Jeff Chanton
Barry Fraser
Ed Oaksford
Lucy Ann Walker-Fraser

Where: Southern Springs Holiday Gift Workshops for the Community, Full Flower School, 1816 Mahan Dr., Tallahassee, FL

When: Saturday, December 1, 2001

Call Southern Springs for the time of this workshop: 850-878-8643 or visit their website at www.southernsprings.org. You may also contact Heart of the Earth at 850-216-8400