By Brooke Maffia Wang
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At 8 years old my daughter wanted a snake, tarantula, turtle, or a fox. I agreed to a fish. A week after getting the beta fish she named Luno he seemed at the end of his time with us. However, he hug on for weeks. Just lying at the bottom of the tank. I changed the water, lighting, and tried all the things to help him do more than just exist. Shocked he was still alive we decided to get three guppies to live in the 2 gallon tank with him, mostly to make my daughter feel better about having what she called “a boring fish.” 

A day or less after we added the three lively guppies to the tank his behavior totally changed. Luno would swim around the tank, sleep behind the filter instead of on the rocks on the bottom, and looked as happy as I assume a fish could look. All we did was put him with other fish. He didn’t particularly seem to want to play with them or like them, but having them there completely changed his behavior.

I realize he is a fish and us humans are completely different animals. (And, hindsight we learned that you’re not supposed to put beta’s with guppies. Oops.) However, by watching what happened with Luno my soul was a reminded of how important the people around us are. Community is not a suggestion, it’s a necessity for life. And, it can be hard. Sometimes we don’t get to choose who we are in community with. 

In this transition place of summer ending (or ended, we’re in full swing of school and sports) and the new semester beginning, consider taking a few beats to notice the different communities you find yourself apart of.  Which ones are life-giving? Which ones require more from you? Within those spaces, what do you offer and what do you receive? Are there any that you’ve outgrown or perhaps a new one inviting you in?

By Wendy Lew Toda




​Why think twice?
who cares?
inconsequential
we murmur
noses in the air.


But there it is
in the nuances of decision
a rash move here
a hesitation there
by these we shift the trajectory 
of our lives
choice by choice
practicing ourselves into
who we become
in a year
in a decade
in a lifetime.

Decide now what posture
no matter the context
feet planted in courage
toes dug deep in calm 
The latest news rushes in
breathlessly gunning to 
sweep us off balance
let the frenzy go raging by
be anchored in peace
in the middle of chaos
the clear voice of wisdom
calls steady and true
the plumb line
for choosing in the everyday
raising the floor  
of our capacity to do what’s right
under duress
practicing when it’s awkward
uncomfortable
risky

so that

when fire comes for us
as it will
we are ready and resolute
standing tall
voices lifted as 
we move out together
joy as our strength
character burned into us
by all we have chosen and 
by all that has chosen us.