For the past few weeks, the Canteen has been hosting community conversations on Tuesday evenings at 6 pm. We have been using John Lewis’s book Carry On as an anchor for our conversations.

I have found these conversations to be enlightening, loving and frustrating. The frustration comes from my ignorance and lack of understanding about so many things.

There is no doubt many of us in Cedar Mountain live a privileged life. Privilege in our comfort and in the depth of community we enjoy here. “Downtown Cedar Mountain” is a hub of love.

The quality of music we enjoy alone is a privilege. Owen, one of the Canteen’s employee-owners, manages our music scene and brings in profound talents.

The Canteen is a listening venue. What does that mean? It means when we host a performer who is sharing their words, thoughts and talents, we give them our attention. We ask the audience to give these souls their attention. It doesn’t make us the most popular music venue in our community. That is OK.

Why am I mentioning this in a story about our community conversations?

Because a connection has made itself obvious to me.

During one of our conversations, we listened to a 15 minute video clip from David Brooks, a conservative who writes for the New York times, among other things. He talks about why we are so divided and his thoughts on how to fix it.

I have listened to this clip over and over again and recently listened to another of his videos on the same subject. What I have understood from his message is it is our lack of attention to individual souls that has caused our country’s division. When someone feels unseen, they get hurt. That hurt turns to anger. In my words, when we dehumanize a soul, it hurts and they get angry. Of course.

When we go out to listen to live music and then ignore the performer and talk, turn our backs to them, and treat them as if they are a radio playing in the background, aren’t we dehumanizing them?

During David Brooks’ video he quotes a writer from the early 1900’s, Simone Weil. Here is the quote:

Your attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.

I have been seeking out more of her writings and articles about here writing. One piece by Justine Toh, senior research fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity writes: “Eighty years after here death, Simone Weil’s wisdom is a vital challenge to today’s attention economy.”

Attention economy.

Is a solution to the division we face in our communities one of sincere attention?

We welcome you to our Tuesday evening conversations as we explore this question and give each other our sincere attention.

with deep love and gratitude.
Kim