Goodness Weekly 7.21.25
“Eyes up. Hearts up. Minds sharp. Compassion on full blast. Let’s Go.”
- Lin-Manuel Miranda
WHAT’S GOOD
This past Saturday, we had a full house for the Sourdough Workshop with Lucy from Kismet to learn the art of making bread. The Farmers Market workshops have been a great way to bring the community together to learn something new about regenerative and sustainable practices from the farmers and vendors who we’ve come to know each Saturday.
With the recent utilization of The Art Room for Open Studio paint sessions, we have been able to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of creating art together. This Saturday, we will have a fun and relaxing way for adults to learn painting with watercolors through our beginner class, Watercolor Wellness Workshop: Simple Techniques.
The Hope of the World is Radical Love
Jess Lowry, Executive Director, Sunset Ridge Collective
In February 2022 I had the privilege of seeing a couple of my favorite musicians–Eddie Vedder & Glen Hansard at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.
Glen Hansard began a song that I knew and loved called Bird of Sorrow. The line says you’re tethered to a bird of sorrow…and goes on to sing I’m not leaving you yet, I’m not leaving…over and over again. As he sang my soul was struck and as tears poured down my face I was reminded of a time when the darkness consumed me. I was in a pit that no one could help me climb out of.
I was only 21 years old, Nathan was only married to me for 2 years, he had every reason in the world to run as I blew apart every good thing around us. Everyone would have understood.
But he didn’t run.
He didn’t leave.
He never left my side as I walked through the dark.
Later that same evening Eddie Vedder sang his song The Dark–I’ll find you in the dark, let me lift you out of the dark.
I keep hearing those songs these past weeks. I hear them as a call. There are people around you right now who can’t see a single bit of light. Their worlds have been shattered and they have suffered unfathomable losses. I think many of us are trying to figure out how & what & should we do here? I have very few answers to anything right now.
But I do know that when I have been in the dark it has been the love that showed up and said I’m not leaving you here alone–day after day after day that saved my life.
Richard Rohr wrote recently:
Only the experience of our own darkness gives us the light we need to be of help to others whose journey into the dark spots of life is only just beginning. It is then that our own taste of darkness qualifies us to be an illuminating part of the human experience. Without that, we are only words, only false witnesses to the truth of what it means to be pressed to the ground and rise again.
My friends, right now we sing the words of Glen Hansard and Eddie Vedder and we go find our friends in the dark. We don’t have the right words, we can’t fix anything, but we can show up as love in the world that illuminates what feels like an unending darkness.
May we have the courage to be that kind of love every single way we can.
Love-Jess
This Week
Wednesday, July 23rd, 11 AM - 1 PM, Open Studio Painting
Saturday, July 26th, 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM, Watercolor Wellness Workshop: Simple Techniques
Coming Up…
Every Wednesday, 11 AM - 1:30 PM, Open Studio Painting
Every Saturday, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, Charis Park
Every Sunday, Worship at 9 AM and 11 AM
Event Rentals - Interested in hosting your event at Charis Park or in our facilities? We are currently booking for 2025–please email rentals@sunset-ridge.org
Community Partners: For updated schedules and events please follow One Another Coffee, Sunset Ridge Farmers Market, NYX Wellness,Scott’s Pizza, Mission Compost, Sprouts School, Good Acres, and Community First Food Pantry.
Inhale: In a world that is weary
Exhale: let me be hope-filled light
