More than ever, we need to be nest builders.
As a Franciscan and a Social Worker who has supported people over many years – I am now 80 – I have seen the lasting effect that stress; feelings of powerlessness; and lack of care and support has on people’s lives. At this time, more than ever, people are grieving, confused and feeling totally powerless to change the tragic events, with genocide and wars occurring in our world due to the actions of dangerous world leaders. Our everyday lives are being affected and despair is growing day by day.
One woman recently expressed her despair at what is happening to innocent families affected by the war in Palestine and Lebanon which goes on without any restraints placed upon the U.S or Israel.
She said, “It is healing to surround myself with others who are heartbroken over the killing of innocent people, even though I still need to go and scream into the ocean on some days. I find that being with people with caring and just values for human rights does help me to carry on. Otherwise, I would actually go crazy. I mean – how do we see Israel drop 100 bombs in ten minutes killing over 300 men, women and children and just go about our lives as if nothing has happened? I need to acknowledge this madness that is taking place while our world sleepwalks through genocide. I need to share my feelings and to find a way to carry on.”
Hearing this statement, I asked myself how do we maintain a sane and caring presence in our lives here now despite such madness? I believe that more than ever we need to come together to care for each other. In that caring and listening we can restore our integrity through action within our local community even if we cannot change world affairs directly. We can focus on the positivity of offering friendship and hope to those who find life almost too heartbreaking to function effectively at present. From this can come opportunities for us to reach out in supportive and positive initiatives to find ways to build stronger links, and to feel empowered to make a difference and enable a greater sense of purpose for our lives.
No matter what age we are, we all need a NEST in which to feel safe and supported in friendship and caring. This is even more important in times of great uncertainty. This is affirmed in the comments of Darcia Narvaez, PhD –
“We are immersed in species-atypical spaces growing species-atypical human beings. Our baselines for what we think is normal have shifted so much we do not realize how atypical we are. Atypical environments leave us dysregulated, easily upset, and disruptive. Species-typical childhoods nurture a healthy neurobiology, sociality, and compassionate morality. Species-typicality, our evolved nest, is needed for species and planetary wellbeing.”
Dysregulation involves sudden and intense outbursts of anger, sadness, despair or anxiety that are difficult to calm down and these outbursts can lead to very destructive actions that compound the situation further extending the sense of isolation. Unresolved emotion can lead to physical and psychological illnesses and further disruption for our lives.
This is an important time for us all to reach out to others who are struggling with life and finding little purpose or power to change what has been the cause of their grief. All who care for human values, truth and justice and who desire to live in peace and understanding of others are seeking ways ahead to build hope and confidence for a better future. I would urge you to seek ways to come together with others who share these desires. Begin in simple ways through caring, sharing the pain and listening to each other. This will show you the pathway forward together that will rebuild hope and restore those true humanitarian values. Let us begin building nests all over to nurture, restore and transform uncertainty into love and action as a community of ‘Earthlings’ working as a team.
One way that our charity – Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust, founded in 1987, is seeking to build hope in our local community here on the South Coast of NSW is through support of our young people by funding educational projects and scholarships to enable equity of opportunity for students for whom these possibilities are too often denied.
In 2024 our Trust formed an educational committee the Narooma Education Support Team (NEST) and we have seen the significant benefits to students at Narooma High School through exciting and innovative programs made possible by some wonderful donors. Through out of classroom Hands on Learning in horticulture, traditional bush tucker plants for food and medication, woodwork and structure building programs including a green house and large covered potting-on area. A traditional bark canoe was proudly built by Indigenous students and we have seen impressive and rewarding outcomes that build confidence and self-belief supported by enthusiastic educators.
We have reached out in strong hope that funds will continue to be found as we have seen the lives of our younger generation flourish and come alive with great hope and potential through these programs. If you are as excited about these programs as we are then we invite you to consider making a tax-deductible donation, to keep these great programs going. Details can be found in our past newsletters on our website – www.elmgrovetrust.org.au
As we gather to heal our shared grief and to restore our humanity together, let us look for ways to build nests of support and to find ways to rebuild together the humanity that has been lost within the darkness of our world of late. Create your own unique NEST within your local community and begin the restoration of hope and purpose for the future of our world. In strength we can combine our voices to call our leaders to peace.
Sister Laurel Clare Lloyd-Jones lfsf
Executive Director
Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust