The Growing Edge Newsletter—October, 2023
Notes From The Edge, Podcast, Parker's Upcoming Events & Carrie's New Album News,
• The Growing Edge October Podcast: “The Inner Roots of Democracy—Healing the Heart of Democracy Revisited”
• Notes from the Edge
• Community Question of the Month
• Parker’s Online Appearances
• Carrie’s New Album, “A Great Wild Mercy”—Available On All Streaming Services October 13, 2023
• Carrie’s Biggest Sale of the Year—20% Storewide Sale to Celebrate the Release of “A Great Wild Mercy”
Notes from the Edge
A Note from Parker
When this newsletter is published on Oct. 1, 2023, the U.S. will be just 13 months away from our next general election. I’ve now lived through and 21 general elections, some of them momentous. But I can think of no election more consequential for the future of the U.S. than the next one will be. We cannot afford to take one more step toward losing our birthright gift of democracy in favor of some form of authoritarianism.
This is not a new concern for me. In March of 2016—eight months before the election that gave us a president who still refuses to concede his clear loss in the 2020 election, and is now threatening “retribution”—I published a piece titled “Will Fascism Trump Democracy?” at Krista Tippett’s On Being site. At the time, I took some flack for using the “f-word” in that title. But in the wake of Jan. 6, 2021 and what we have come to know about its planners and its apologists, many observers now find the word not only appropriate but necessary. It can happen here…
So I was glad when Carrie suggested that we devote our Oct., 2023 podcast to exploring some of the issues I wrote about in my 2011 book, Healing the Heart of Democracy. Like most of my books, this one was written partly out of my own needs—in this case, to deepen my understanding of democracy and remind me of what creative citizenship looks like among a badly divided “We the People.”
In the following Note, Carrie reflects on the relationship between political conflict and “loving kindness.” Please read what she has to say, then join us in conversation via the podcast.
A Note from Carrie…
This month’s growing edge conversation came at the right moment for me. I am a person that has dedicated a good deal of time developing a practice of holding difference with creative openness. I believe in the possibility of finding that “third way” between difference. It may not be easy, but it is often only when we are willing to hear the story and able to open up enough space for non-judgmental conversation, that something creative can happen. Trying to hold difference creatively is my “go to” mode of operating in the world. But lately I’ve been wrestling with the idea that all difference and conflict are not created equal. There are times when I do not feel it is correct or effective for me to enter into a conversation when it means I would have to validate or normalizing a hateful and harming idea. I do have to check in with myself and make sure I’m not just avoiding uncomfortable moments or conflict when I come face to face with difference of opinion, or when I know that I cannot be effective in a conversation or I do not wish to lift up or normalize the person’s starting point.
It’s not an easy line to walk, and emotions do get high. So I will continue to stay open and listen with a good heart and well intentions. I’ll sing songs that reflect the change I hope to see within myself and out there in the world. But I also know that can’t engage in conversations that propose the denigration and denial of full humanity to myself or people I care about. There is no coming to a table to talk nonviolent conflict resolution if they insist upon arriving with a loaded automatic weapon. There are just non-starters for me, and it’s been freeing to say, “I don’t want to engage with you, because I will not honor this harmful belief with the pretense of normality.” My hope is that I can continue to stay open, listen to stories, try to learn and acquire new insights. But I also hope I can develop a practice of being clearer when needed, knowing when it’s not my job to soothe someone’s conscience and say, “I can see you’re a good person with ideas very different than my own” when I am actually being called to say, “I find what you are proposing deeply hurtful and harmful, and it denigrates people I care about. I cannot engage with you on this issue.” This is creating a boundary that is physical, emotional, and honors my deep intuition.
Loving kindness can look like embracing and hanging in there with a tough problem. But loving kindness can also look like walking away from the mess.
The Growing Edge Podcast
You can listen here, or on Substack, I-Tunes, Spotify or where ever you get your podcasts!
Episode 53: The Inner Roots of Democracy—Healing the Heart of Democracy Revisited
In this podcast, Parker and Carrie wrestle with how to hold the tension of our differences creatively, and puzzle over what to do when those differences do not open into creative resolutions. We explore the meaning of “We Shall Overcome” and the power of prophetic voice at a time when democracy is in peril. Carrie also sings the title track “A Great Wild Mercy” from her newest album.
For more on what creative citizenship looks like, please check out Parker’s book Healing the Heart of Democracy
Visit our website for the full archives of The Growing Edge Podcast.
Question of the Month
“The civil discourse we need will not come from ‘watching our tongues’. It will come from valuing our differences and the creative possibilities inherent in them.” (PJP) But what should we do when those differences do not offer a creative path forward? For example, where is the middle ground between “Here’s what the science or the law says” and “Here’s what a mystery man called ‘Q’ says.” How do you respond when you are talking with someone whose convictions defy logic, evidence, common sense, and perhaps even decency? What does love look like under those circumstances?
Parker’s Online Appearances
Earlier this year, I sat down with Patricia Karpas, host of the Untangle Podcast. We had a delightful conversation under the title, “Living with the Courage to Accept All of Who We Are.” Patricia is one of those young people who are old souls, people who are both wise and curious about the human condition. If you enjoy our conversation half as much as I did, you’re in for a treat.
A few months ago, I had a visit from Lee C. Camp, dynamic host of the PRX program “No Small Endeavor.” We had a wonderful conversation that’s now available as a podcast at the NSE site under the title, “Courage, Vocation, and Paradox.” Widely available wherever you get your podcasts.
Michael Kay is a very engaging entrepreneur, writer, and life coach who focuses on finding meaning in our older years. I had a wonderful time talking with him about my most recent book, “On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity & Getting Old.” You can listen HERE—and if you like what you hear, you’ll find Part II of our conversation under the Podcast tab on Michael’s site.
A Great Wild Mercy on Apple Music, Spotify & All Streaming Platforms—October 13, 2023
AND A Great Wild Mercy 20% Off Store-Wide Sale Until October 13th!
I hope you check out this new album A Great Wild Mercy on Itunes, Apple Music, Spotify or where ever you stream or purchase your music!
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In Celebration - I’m having a 20% STORE WIDE SALE at my website store. This will be my biggest sale for the year, so I hope you’ll check out the new GWM album, beautiful posters, hats and T-shirts, as well as my past albums, poetry collections and songbooks! Here’s the LINK Just put in the code GWM20
AND as always….when you purchase from my website store you directly support the work I do and art I create! Much gratitude to you all!
Carrie’s Events
I’m so excited to share this new album in so many fun formats. Select shows will include Gary Walters, Allie Summers, and two very special performances that will feature a full string quartet with beautiful arrangements by Gary Walters. For more details and purchase tickets visit my website touring page. - Carrie www.carrienewcomer.com/tou
We live on a country road with only 5 neighboring houses. The houses are far enough apart that our interactions are usually just a wave as we walk or drive by. For many years, there was animosity with one neighbor in particular, who burned toxic garbage, drove too fast down the road, used live traps, without checking them often, and other. One year, filled with Christmas spirit I guess, I decided to host an afternoon holiday potluck just for the neighbors on the road. I wasn't sure whether we'd even find anything to talk about. They came at 4:00 and left and 11:30! It set the tone for later conversations about the problems that can arise among neighbors. More importantly, it set up a support network that has has been there as we all face "life"--- collectively: knee replacements, son's divorce, retirement, a car accident, lost keys, broken pipes, in addition to checking to see whether the coffee pot was left on, borrowing the proverbial cup of flour, or watching the house while a neighbor is away. I'm pretty sure our politics are VERY different, but we simply do NOT discuss them. It would be like a magic spell that none of us is willing to break, even by putting up a political sign. Not here--not on this country road where only the neighbors would see it--We are grateful for our neighbors as we all age in place. And we have the Christmas potluck every year--including carols sung around our piano. We even met out in the street in our lawn chairs during Covid. (Not many cars come down this road!)
I usually respond from curiosity. What experiences did this person have that would lead them to this conclusion?