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Dear all
A warm hello to you as you read this newsletter from all of us at Thirdspace. It’s April 2020 and these times are proving to be a truly significant opening for us all. Maybe you’re feeling the effects of isolating at home, maybe you or people close to you have had Coronavirus, maybe you're feeling filled with the possibilities that these times are opening, or maybe you are listening to the news each day with waves of fear and worry for our world. However you are, it’s impossible for anyone not to be touched by Coronavirus and the impact it’s having throughout the world.
We are feeling keenly that our work is relevant, important and needed as a contribution to the world finding healing and new ways forward: so that everyone can develop the capacity to be with and turn towards suffering and difficulty; so that people can deepen their presence and take responsibility without shying away; and so that we can all learn to soften our defences so we can really see rather than deny or close our eyes to things that we find uncomfortable.
We think that communities of meaning, belonging and contribution can help people face the challenges of our time. Parker Palmer writes about belonging in many beautiful ways and we feel his words reflect what the gift of community can bring: Belonging to one another is our birthright gift. Belonging is not a set of feelings we depend on but a set of practices we enact. Belonging requires a choice to trust others and risk the consequences. When we risk trust, we risk vulnerability, which is what ultimately deepens our belonging. Belonging requires discernment about which relationships and which communities can help us be and see ourselves rightly. Belonging gives us what we yearn for—an exchange of gifts that brings reconciliation.
However you belong with us, whether you are a graduate of one of our programmes, have participated as a guest client, listen to our Turning Towards Life offering either live or as a podcast, or have joined our weekly Turning Towards One Another gathering, we feel you as part of a growing and vibrant community through which we are collectively nurturing each other.
And as our community grows, Thirdspace is also growing – we are thrilled to welcome Andy Rogers. Andy is going to take special responsibility for developing new ways to support our growing community. You’ll hear more about and from him over the coming weeks and months, and in the meantime you can read about him here.
It’s with warm hearts that we extend ourselves to you. With love
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