About halfway through the evening, the straight-line winds outside gained such strength that the barn seemed at risk of coming apart at its seams. Rusted road signs and old hubcaps decorating the east exterior wall of the metal building rattled and banged chaotically. That noise, combined with the howling straight-line wind, startled those of us inside and got us to jump and laugh, maybe a little nervously. But still, the party thrummed on.
Inside the weather-beaten barn, friends of all ages and from several wonderful parts of life filled their laps with delicious snacks. We traded life updates since we’d last seen each other. We chatted, too, about the TV series everyone had been watching in preparation for this event, the thing we had all gathered to discuss. We took turns entertaining the long-legged white puppy, who was new to the group and insatiable for treats and freedom, and gradually each of us meandered up to a large blank “Kindness” canvas to contribute a little bit of our personality.
After a couple of hours of much-needed togetherness, we dimmed the lights and aimed our chairs at the big screen. As the movie started, we collectively traded out expectations for curiosity. Curiosity, it turned out, was a strong theme from the newest program, and it resonated with our group of friends. Eighty minutes later, winds still howling outside and long-legged puppy still campaigning for treats but also napping now with Klaus, we raised the lights again and launched into a great discussion.
How wonderful to hear from such a variety of personalities about what spirituality means to them. How encouraging to learn that people we love and respect have also had the experience of finding God far outside the confines of a church building. What a lovely surprise that one of our friends here that night had not long ago completed a specific meditation certification mentioned in the movie.
We tossed around the notion of “random acts of kindness” and the inherent satisfaction that comes with doing something for someone else, how it can be confusing because it essentially serves us too. So is it selfish? We agreed that food is a universal binder, a reliable way to connect with others, and we tried to pinpoint a few local charities that are doing such valuable work, addressing niche problems.
A few precious people talked about religious trauma and their miraculous discoveries that healing is available, that Love is powerful. We marveled over the interesting phenomenon of how spiritual seeking tends to lead people to India. We traded stories about meditation and prayer, what kindness means to us, and much more. I noticed how many people returned over and over again to the idea of curiosity and the importance of widening your perspective.
Despite the brutal March weather, our two youngest guests made good use of their time by exploring the farm. They visited and fed all the animals, with special attention to the ten new baby chicks staying cozy in a garage brooder. They played on the tree swing, explored the meditation path, and generally became buddies. This is especially nice because the parents of the older little girl are old friends with the grandma of the younger little girl, though I don’t think the girls knew it. They just clung to each other in a big group of adults, and their sweet personalities melded beautifully.
We continued hanging out and talking in the barn, separating into new little groups, finding more treats to nibble on (everyone brought so much!), and squeezing life out of every minute. I snapped a handful of photos, but not enough. Several treasured friends stayed nice and late, but I would happily have kept them here even longer.
In case you aren’t familiar with this project, it’s all the work and inspiration of Leon Logothetis. And he credits, before him, The Motorcycle Diaries, but Leon puts quite a spin on it. Of course, I recommend it if you haven’t watched it yet. There are two television series available, plus this new 80-minute movie.
From a distance, the world probably seems like a big, bad, scary place. If you listen to the news or even ask the person next to you, they will likely talk about war, poverty, corruption, and hate. And they are probably right, from a distance. But I believe that up close there is enough good, enough love, and enough pure kindness to make the world go round, and that is what inspired my journey. A journey where random acts of kindness are repaid with unexpected and life changing gifts. And these are the Kindness Diaries.
~Leon Logothetis
It was a very good night to get stuck inside a barn with a few dozen people who believe that kindness is vital at all times in history, and that it is alive and well in this moment in time, despite media evidence to the contrary. It was also a good night to feel cozy with these people around a portable propane heater, which stood in just fine for a bonfire on a shockingly cold March evening.
In our world, right here in Choctaw, Oklahoma, we feel so lucky that kindness is easy to find. It overflows all the borders and softens every edge. We are surrounded not only by friends and family who would do anything for us, but also by strangers who make Oklahoma extraordinary. Almost weekly, I hear about another small organization or tiny group of people applying the most loving laser focus to fill a very particular need they have discovered. We are in awe of how much generosity tends to be the energy behind hard efforts. I bet you feel that way about where you live, too. I bet you agree with the idea that Love and kindness and goodwill do not always get sensationalized the way we want them to. But we can shift that.
Thank you to everyone who visited the farm last weekend! We love you so much, and we are excited to have started another year of community gatherings! Please stay tuned for more.
“You’d think that people would have
had enough of silly love songs.
I looked around me, and I see it isn’t so!”
xoxoxo
~Paul McCartney