What’s your favorite spot to gather with friends and solve the world’s problems? Your responses - The Dallas Morning News

kuangkunang.blogspot.com

Recently in the Living Our Faith feature, we asked readers: What is your favorite spot to gather with friends and solve the world’s problems? The following are some of the thoughtful responses.

This column is part of our ongoing opinion commentary on faith, called Living Our Faith. Find this week’s reader question and get weekly roundups of the project in your email inbox by signing up for the Living Our Faith newsletter.

They run around together

About 10 years ago, I taught several women’s beginner running classes at White Rock Lake. Through the classes I met many wonderful women of all ages. After our Saturday workouts we would go to breakfast.

Each week we shared our lives, our families, our hopes, our fears and our dreams. We laughed and we cried. But most of all, we encouraged one another. Some of us, of different ages, backgrounds and perspectives, continue this tradition. Anyone is welcome to join us. We have shared births, children, grandchildren, deaths, jobs, relationships and anything else that is on our mind.

We leave feeling we have solved all of the world’s problems and are renewed for the week ahead. I wouldn’t trade anything for this sacred hour with this group. It is better than a psychiatrist and a whole lot more fun.

Luann Grammer

Yoga Zooming

Long periods of isolation can be dangerous, even for introverts like me. Interestingly, my favorite place to gather to get that high-dose shot of human connection has been time spent Zooming with my yoga classmates, some of whom I never really got to know on a personal level until all this started.

The owner of Radical Yoga creates a safe social space with no agenda. We share, reflect and ask questions of one other. One topic was the shutdown protests, mostly conducted by white males on the steps of state government buildings. I really couldn’t wrap my head around why people would be so up in arms about the quarantine.

And then one of the participants thoughtfully explained how this group of individuals has likely never been told they couldn’t do whatever they wanted. An example of white privilege on full display. I’m not sure I would have been able to truly understand without my beloved yoga Zoom calls.

Matthew Bado, McKinney

McDonald’s fellowship

My favorite spot for a group gathering is located in Garland at Shiloh and the Bush Turnpike. There is a McDonald’s just south of that intersection that pretty much looks like all the other McDonald’s. What makes it special happens every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., except during COVID-19 season. A senior adult Bible class gathers there.

Sure, we enjoy our Bible study on Sunday, but the real authentic meeting happens on Tuesday. The group’s average age is 84 and most are celebrating at least 63 years of marriage. We schedule an hour, but people are still hanging around past noon. Why so long? We have problems to solve, stories to tell and medical advice to dispense. We don’t discuss politics since it wouldn’t change anyone’s mind. Besides, we came for fun and fellowship.

The only sad part is the failure to grow this group. We want others to join us. We want to hear some new stories. As we invite other customers, they are skeptical that we are some kind of cult. We live in a suspicious culture that builds barriers between people. Others are too lonely to join us. They need a group but are too shy to take the first step. I would advise all who need a group to go to the nearest McDonald’s and start your own group. If that doesn’t work for you, join us on Tuesday mornings.

Ed Jackson, Garland

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"gather" - Google News
June 27, 2020 at 02:01PM
https://ift.tt/2Z74Ks4

What’s your favorite spot to gather with friends and solve the world’s problems? Your responses - The Dallas Morning News
"gather" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2Sqdbwp
https://ift.tt/2Yjhqxs

Bagikan Berita Ini