The green landscape produced by spring showers has now been replaced by summer brown. It’s hot. I find myself wanting to do little and just say, “It’s hot.” And as always, there is much to do on the Ranch. One day, I was continuing work on the barn while the Jolly Ranchers were playing when Ted Drake came in and asked if I knew where some tool was. I didn’t actually know the tool he was referring to, but I pointed to the stall referred to as the Tool Bay, which Jack Favor and John Floyd had organized at the first Mega Barn Cleanout Work Party. Ted came out with the tool in hand. We both smiled, and it was motivation to keep going.
Others kept going too…
On July 1st, we were joined by 15 people for the second round of the Mega Barn Clean-up. The previous work party focused on clearing the aisles and stalls, while this one concentrated on cleaning the main Carriage Room.
The Carriage Room was still filled with tubs of dusty kitchenware from the previous work party. Prior to the second Mega Barn Clean-up Work Party, Christi Mider and Sarah Huskins spent an entire day at Windermere washing and relocating everything!
Jack Favor and Corinne Kidd also came up the week before the work party to help with punch list items at each of the Guest Houses. They installed curtain rods, hung mirrors and artwork, sanded, painted, measured, rebuilt, and cleaned—all in preparation for the volunteers and future guests.
When we found filing cabinets filled with documents, some as old as David, we knew we needed support. We called in Martha Ringer to sort through everything. (She started that weekend and has since completed!)
Many people from the initial Mega Barn Clean-up returned, and a few new volunteers joined as well. We received extra incentive to finish the carriage room since the Caminita De Paz event was scheduled there the following day.
Although there are still a few big items left for me to post and sell (which Michea measured and took photos of for me to post), most of the room was cleared, and we set up chairs for the gathering the next day.
We finished in a closing circle, all of us sweaty and hot in the summer’s heat in the barn, acknowledging an experience we were grateful to have during the day.
"Where I live, summer’s keynote is abundance. The forests fill with undergrowth, the trees with fruit, the meadows with wildflowers and grasses, the fields with wheat and corn, the gardens with zucchini, and the yards with weeds. In contrast to the sensationalism of spring, summer is a steady state of plenty, a green and amber muchness that feeds us on more levels than we know…
...In the human world, abundance does not happen automatically. It is created when we have the sense to choose community, to come together to celebrate and share our common store.
Whether the “scarce resource” is money or love or power or words, the true law of life is that we generate more of whatever seems scarce by trusting its supply and passing it around. Authentic abundance does not lie in secured stockpiles of food or cash or influence or affection, but in belonging to a community where we can give those goods to others who need them--and receive them from others when we are in need."
-Parker Palmer
I am grateful to be at Windermere, a part of this community, and volunteering alongside such gracious people who are sharing their time and talents to support the Ranch.
Each of us has received so much, and we all have something to offer. To those who have chosen to share with this community…
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
In next month’s newsletter, we will be sharing more about the growth of community and abundance at Windermere. Stay tuned...
- Ashley Whitaker
The Caminata De Paz (Peace Walk) was an event organized by Alicia Landa, Moises Oceguera, and Kay Turback that took place on June 23. Twenty-six participants gathered in the newly cleaned barn to Call in the Light, review the Four Principles of the Institute of Individual and World Peace (IIWP), and do the Luxor Meditation. Proceeding to find the place of Peace within, they walked the land with the intention of Peace. To complete, participants had an opportunity to share their experience and like all great events, this one ended in a feast.
Here's what Matt VanFossan shared about the experience:
A highlight for me was the walk to the Peace Pole near the pond and taking turns placing blessings for peace. When my turn came, my heart was so filled with joy that I couldn’t stop myself from singing a little song about peace that popped into my head during the walk. There’s something so magical about walking the land of Windermere and coming together in the awareness that peace is always present.
Thanks to all involved with organizing and participating in the Caminata de Paz.
At the first Mega Barn Cleanout, during the opening circle, we passed around a keychain with laminated copies of each of the IIWP qualities, and each person selected one for the day. Here is a video of Leo selecting his quality.
Whether you are looking to cultivate more gratitude, experience greater abundance, or express more loving, in your life, we remind you that this is the season of the Adopt-A-Quality Program.
The Adopt-A-Quality Program evolved as a vehicle for claiming and cultivating the qualities of peace that are already present within each of us. By claiming and energizing the quality (or qualities) we want to experience more deeply, and by making a donation to IIWP in support of this action, we not only expand the peace within ourselves but also become conduits for these qualities to flow out into the world, supporting the work and mission of IIWP.
This year, at Conference, four NEW qualities were added:
Forgiveness
Listening
Wisdom
Silence
How do I participate in Adopt-A-Quality?
Look over the list of Qualities of Peace and choose one or more that you would like to energize and express more of in your life. These qualities have been charged by the IIWP founder, John-Roger, and/or blessed by our Spiritual Director, John Morton.
Thanks to all who attended the Gathering of Peacemakers at the Conference of Celebration on June 26th! If you missed the event, you can catch the recording below.
The event featured John-Roger excerpts, a NEW Windermere Promo video, a guided meditation for Adopt-A-Quality, and the palpable peace that is the focus of IIWP and Windermere.
When we gather as peacemakers, we do ourselves, and the planet a great service. We call forward the peace that is always present and in doing so, can live more fully into that peace in our lives.
Imagine if we lived our lives knowing that we are peace. What would happen in an hour? In a day? In a lifetime?
Let's find out!
-David Whitaker
Photos & Videos!
Enjoy these photos and videos from Windermere Ranch.
Album: July 2024
Invitation to Serve
Next Work Party: Windermere Barn Clean-Out, Episode 3
Saturday, August 17, 1pm - 5pm
Sunday, August 18, 9am - noon
Windermere Jukebox
35 NEW Songs added: Madonna, Elton John, John Denver, the B-52's, Paula Abdul, Olivia Newton-John, the Kinks, Nat King Cole, and More
Nota: Las cartas y diversas actualizaciones ahora están disponibles en español! Favor de enviarme un email, si deseas recibirlos en español.
Institute for Individual and World Peace (IIWP)
3500 W Adams Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018
Copyright © 2020 Institute for Individual and World Peace (IIWP), All rights reserved You are receiving this email as a thank you to our donors for the Adopt-A-Quality Program.