A Letter from Rev. Erin Gilmore
Dear RMC,
In 2015-2016, I participated in a leadership program with Margaret Wheatley called Warriors for the Human Spirit. It consisted of three in-person retreats over the course of 18 months. As part of our application to the program, we were asked to define what it meant to be a Warrior of the Human spirit. At the time I wrote: “Warriors of the Human Spirit are awake human beings who have chosen not to flee. They abide. They serve as beacons of an ancient story that tells of the goodness and generosity of humanity. You can identify them by their cheerfulness. You will know them by their compassion. When asked how they do it, they will tell you about discipline, dedication, and the necessity of community.”
I remember so vividly when, at our second retreat, Margaret said there would be a time in the not-too-distant future when we would look back on these years (2015-2016) with longing compared to what we would be facing in the years to come. In studying the cycles of civilization, it became pretty clear to her (and now to many others) that we were entering the stage known as collapse. The first time I allowed this reality into my awareness, I felt like my heart was being torn apart. The grief of what is being lost is overwhelming.
Recognizing our civilization’s impending collapse is heartbreaking and almost impossible to bear. But, that is precisely why Margaret has dedicated whatever time she has left to training Warriors of the Human Spirit. She is dedicated to helping leaders learn how to show up with compassion and insight no matter what is happening around them so that they can help cultivate what she calls “Islands of Sanity.”
In her Strategic Framework in Age of Collapse, Cameron Trimble writes about these Islands of Sanity:
Wheatley describes these islands as small, intentional spaces where people come together to reclaim values of trust, compassion, and cooperation. Islands of Sanity are formed by groups of committed individuals who share a dedication to meaningful relationships and a sense of purpose, fostering stability, community, and sanity amidst widespread uncertainty and breakdown.
In her book, “Who Do We Choose to Be?” Wheatley explains that these islands are not passive refuges; rather, they are active communities that choose to operate outside the dominant patterns of competition, division, and fear that often characterize larger social systems. On these islands, people work together to uphold principles of kindness, inclusion, and shared responsibility, creating a sense of sanctuary that nurtures well-being and hope.
Here’s why I’m sharing all of this with you: Across our Conference, I am bearing witness to Warriors of the Human Spirit. I am seeing Islands of Sanity that offer shelter, strength, resilience, and purpose in the midst of chaos and destruction. You are choosing not to flee. You are abiding. You are out there reminding people that they are Holy, Beloved, and gifted with the power of love that no tyranny can extinguish.
In the last two weeks, Hunter Baker (our RMC Treasurer), myself, and members of the RMC Finance Committee have been meeting with various people in the Conference who have a connection to a ministry that is represented in our current budget. Every conversation reflected such deep care, passion, and dedication to the ministries of the Conference and to the important work of our local churches. This gives me hope.
On Sunday, we gathered for two Ecclesiastical Councils, one for Brooklyn McBride and the other for Katie Fanning. In both of these leaders, I witnessed such a profound yes to the call to abide with and accompany people on their journey of faith. This too gives me hope.
It has become my practice to spend as much time paying attention to where there is goodness, generosity, creativity, and bravery, rather than focusing on meanness, greed, incompetence, and small-mindedness. Thanks to you and the ways you are continuing to show up in the world, I don’t have to look far to find it.
In Gratitude,
Erin
Transitional Conference Minister, RMC
Want to learn more about Cameron Trimble’s work and theology? Check out this upcoming UCC Webinar on March 12th! Click on this link to learn more and register.
Want to learn more about Hunter and Erin’s budget work? Watch the video below to learn more!
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