Active hope is a practice…

It is something we do rather than something we have.    

– Joanna Macy

The great Joanna Macy passed on last week, and I’ve been reflecting on the tremendous scope of her life and the many forms of wisdom she shared.

Years ago I was fortunate to attend a weeklong retreat with Joanna. What I imagined as a dreamy, restful time in the redwoods was anything but. For the first time I was not asked to come up with a whiteboard of solutions, or make an impassioned argument, or to sit in quiet contemplation. Instead I was required to acknowledge the grief that sits at the heart of all worthy endeavors, whether they honor people or ideas or planet.

Ooof.

This was encouraging, and empowering, and restorative.

But first it was hard.

This time with Joanna left me with the first strands of a net that has grown to be a great support in both life and work. When I am able to sit with the grief, the full power of the love is unboxed and able to shine through.

Dazzling.

Eternal.

Infinite. 

That it will never come again

Is what makes life so sweet.  

     – Emily Dickinson