For December's virtual Family Program, we explored the theme of generosity. We first shared things we've been noticing in nature, such as the frozen earth, colder temperatures, full moon, and beautiful sunsets.
We then read and acted out the story Carl and the Meaning of Life by Deborah Freedman. In the story an earthworm named Carl is asked by a field mouse why he does what he does, digging in the dirt, digesting leaves and making fluffy soil. Carl realizes that he does not know why he does what he does, so he stops digging and goes on a quest to find out. In the meantime he encounters various animals, all doing the things that they do, but none of them are able to help Carl answer his question. Eventually Carl returns to the field mouse, but the earth has grown hard and barren. Carl realizes how his digging in the dirt helps all of the other plants and animals grow and thrive, and returns to his tunneling with a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.
We discussed how each of us can be generous by being who we are and doing what we do, even if we don't always realize it. Kenzan then led us in a breathing meditation of giving and receiving, a gong of the bell, and a group OM.
