Common Good Collective

Reader

This Reader is an expression of Common Good Collective, a vision for an alternative way, rooted in the act of eliminating economic isolation, the significance of place, and the structure of belonging. Whether you come at this from a place of economics, social good, or faith, we hope these reflections help orient your day in fresh, provocative, courageous ways. And most importantly, we hope these lead you into the sharing of gifts in particular communities—into co-creating a common good.

We read hundreds of articles and select the best ones for you by sending them to your inbox on Thursday.
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Invitation, Reader, Significance Of Place, Structure Of Belonging Permalink

On Choosing to Belong to a Place

Patterns of monstrous greed have set our species at war with non-human beings. In this 2020 letter, scientist and prose artist Robin Wall Kimmerer invites us to Indigenous ways of returning to peace with the planet.

Greed Does Not Have to Define Our Relationship to Land: On Choosing to Belong to a Place
By Robin Wall Kimmerer

Dear Readers—America, Colonists, Allies, and Ancestors-yet-to-be,

We’ve seen that face before, the drape of frost-stiffened hair, the white-rimmed eyes peering out from behind the tanned hide of a humanlike mask, the flitting gaze that settles only when it finds something of true interest—in a mirror. Cruel eyes, a false face and demeanor of ravening hunger despite the unconscionable hoarding of excess while others go without. The spittle quickly licked away from the sly “fox in the henhouse” smirk that sends chills down your spine, a mouth that howls lies pretending it’s an anthem.

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 Invitation, Reader, Sabbath: Time for the Unexpected, Structure Of Belonging Permalink

“More Heart, Less Attack”

Making peace involves mining the emotions that we may have learned to cover up. It involves paying attention and looking for language to map the impermissible feelings—anger, sadness, fear. This song calls us to excavate our hearts, which is harder work that detonating them.

“More Heart, Less Attack”
By Bear and Bo Rinehart

Be the light in the crack
Be the one that’s mending the camel’s back
Slow to anger, quick to laugh
Be more heart and less attack

Be the wheels, not the track
Be the wanderer that’s coming back
Leave the past right where it’s at
Be more heart and less attack

The more you take the less you have
‘Cause it’s you in the mirror staring back
Quick to let go, slow to react
Be more heart and less attack

Ever growing, steadfast
And if need, be the one that’s in the gap
Be the never turning back
Twice the heart any man could have

Be the wheels, not the track
Be the wanderer that’s coming back
Leave the past right where it’s at
Be more heart and less attack
Be more heart and less attack
Be more heart and less attack

I stuck my hat out, I caught the rain drops
I drank the water, I felt my veins block
I’m nearly sanctified, I’m nearly broken
I’m down the river, I’m near the open
I stuck my hat out, I caught the rain drops
I drank the water, I felt my veins block
I’m near the sanctified, I’m near broken
I’m down the river, I’m near the open

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 Leaving Egypt and Pharaoh, Reader, Structure Of Belonging Permalink

Liberation: To Be Free From

Sometimes we get a glimpse of light and can unearth just enough audacity to liberate ourselves.  We become free from a person, expectation, or ideal that may have oppressed us for a short or very long time.

Our hope is that these authors and their works may reveal that sliver of light, so that you can move toward a freedom from that which has been holding you captive.

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 Leaving Egypt and Pharaoh, Poetry for Building Community, Reader, Structure Of Belonging Permalink

Two Poems by Crystal Wilkinson

Crystal Wilkinson is Kentucky’s Poet Laureate.  The following poems are from her most recent publication entitled Perfect Black, a memoir in verse which elegantly explores rural Black girlhood, religion, sexual abuse, and growing up in Southern Appalachia.

Many of her poems model the courage it takes to shed expectations and worry, while concurrently accepting the reality of living in an imperfect society.

Undersong:
To be free from societal expectations for our bodies – “Black & Fat & Perfect”
To be free from worrying about our children’s safety – “Mother’s Day”

Black & Fat & Perfect
by Crystal Wilkinson

He knows there is truth in silence,
in the stillness of perfect black,
perfect balance-bliss from the kiss
of ancient chants. They are patient
as the clouds of dust in the corners-
remnants of the sloughing of old skins
reborn in the us of them. Round tree to bark back
they lie in moonlight & haze till day breaks
& the dust floats into the light above them
a magical veil to cover their faces
a balm to heal all wounds.
Light dances in the window
& the work of morning begins.
He brews the coffee. She churns the sausage.
He scoops her waist from behind,
cups the girth of her belly & she is black & fat
& perfect in his capable, warm hands.

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