Connections Provide a Strong Ground

I was sitting at a local coffee shop on a Thursday morning, while I wrote this month’s blog.  After I arrived and got settled, I scanned the room to see what the other people at the coffee shop were doing. The man sitting a few tables away was on a video call, there were several others working on their laptops, a few folks were talking with friends or family, and a dad was playing games with his kids at the table across from me.  I don’t often work from a coffee shop, but on Thursday it worked best for my schedule. 

Despite all the people around me, I felt peaceful and I felt grounded.  I don’t often find that in a busy, public place. Why does this coffee shop bring me a sense of peace that I needed on Thursday morning? Why do I feel grounded in this place? Is it because I was sitting alone against the outer wall?  Is it because there was no TV playing the news or any other program, just some nice quiet music in the background?  Perhaps it was a combination of both. 

Brené Brown in her book, Strong Ground, talks about the importance of being grounded.  I have noticed that when I am grounded, I feel more at peace.  While I pride myself on my ability to work well when things are busy and chaotic, it is good to remind myself that I need to slow down.  Early in her book, Brené Brown writes, “Right now, the thought of slowing down to do anything can be paralyzing.  But at the very least, we should be building new capabilities while at the same time doubling down on core stability and functional strength. Developing core stability and functional strength in organizations means investing in people, because for an organization, people, and our connection to each other are the strong ground.”

As I thought about what Brené Brown wrote and how I was feeling at the coffee shop, I think it was the people in that space that helped me feel grounded and peaceful. I could relate to the dad playing games with his children.  I saw the value in conversations between friends or family. It was a great space to work or study. I connected with the people in the coffee shop without even knowing their names.  We had something in common.

The connections we make with other people are important and a valued part of our shared humanity.  We need people in our lives; those who come in just for a moment and those who have been there for many years. It is in these connections that we find purpose and strength, and love. 

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Katrina Steingraeber