Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for a powerful call last night, on "How Does A Heart of Service Respond?" to the this global pandemic. It truly feels like the beginning of so many possibilities.

To continue the conversation...

• Online Feed: We've setup an online space specifically for this topic, where you can post your ideas, stories, photos, and also interact with each other further: Join Here.

• Recordings: You can access the audio and video recordings of the call at those links. We'll also be posting up short clips in our online feed as well.

• Group Photo: To share in the smiles, here's a fun photo of some of the many faces in the conversation. A fitting image, of what epidemiology professor, Kala, pointed out at the end of call: "It's not not social distance, but physical distance with social solidarity." :)

And from that social solidarity, there is so much to soak in, and so much to bloom.

In our opening panel on medicine and resiliency, doctor-poet Sri described the feeling of standing in a circle of doctors preparing to treat coronavirus patients: “We are ordinary people called to do sacred work." Along those lines, in our closing "wisdom panel," Bonnie offered: "What if we are sacred people becoming ordinary? Small acts matter." In between, there was a palpable spirit of the creative opportunity this pandemic provides us. "Can this be a turning point of global solidarity?" Sri added. Clair reframed our timeframe of work and action to the sweeping present: "We are being called to shift our way of thinking to ‘what can we do right now to help people in the state?" Not legislation for five years down, but how can we show up in this hour? Similarly, Bijan took us through stats in Germany, story of his parents, and posed: "How do we collectively serve?" After small breakouts and collective insights, Rev Heng Sure summed up what many of us wondered: "What can you do to affect the whole, when you are behind your own door?" Chronicling our capacity to give of material, insight, and courage, he poignantly described the pain of change, of our response to ever-changing phenomena, and its creative calls: "In all these challenges, people come together. Let's watch and listen -- how can we apply our learnings to the next challenge and get through it together with wisdom?"

To that end, many of us spoke of creative innovations during an in an optional session after the call. Vipul shared an open invite with friends: "I'm here to listen," which sparked a 'mindful listening space' online. Similarly, Brinda began offering a virtual meditation hour. Paul invited us all to collect stories of generosity. Radha offered: "What is the role of prayer?" Xiao is hosting a 21-day "Coronavirus Challenge" with her community, to foster connection and self-cultivation. Avni wondered about creating a buddy system between youth and elders. Just after our call, Pankaj sent an email offering support to his neighborhood, to which others echoed the spirit of offering.

Rumi once wrote: "There are a thousand ways to kneel and kiss the ground." In that spirit, we look forward to collectively tuning into the many ways we can hold and respond with a heart of service!

Thank you, each one of you, for giving of your time, insight, courage, and heart as we see how the coming days and months unfold around the world, inside and out.

With Gratitude,

Audrey, Dustin, Helen, Bradley, Avni, Pragalbha, Ann, Liz and more :)