First Pres Kids Hayward

We had over 45 people attend our second annual Pride Month Family Movie 🥰 which was just named Best Movie Theatre in ’s Best of Bay Area!!! And we made the local paper (link in bio to digital article)! Thank you so much to our co-hosts this year: Holy Cross Episcopal and Stonewall Community which meets at . It’s not an understatement to say that this work is life-saving and is a requirement of our faith—not only because Jesus says so (!) but also because it’s our responsibility to right the past and continued harm/atrocities that are done in his name. Showing up in individual relationships, within your community and and as a community for q***r kids and families matters—at we don’t say you are welcome “no matter who you are” because it very much matters to us and to God who you are—you are a beloved and necessary part of this world not in spite of your q***rness but because of it 😍🏳️‍🌈 ***rkids

(1/2)I have everything and nothing to say. Last week, I wrote that we should practice feeling everything. This week, I find myself swinging between feeling it all and feeling nothing at all, zoned out, on autopilot.

I picked up the preschooler from school, and lately, living with her has been like living in an episode of Dora, The Explorer. First! We’ll walk to Mommy’s office to pack up her bag. Second! We’ll drive to pick up big brother from school. Third! We’ll go home for dinner!

Except, after picking up the preschooler (stop 1), I skipped driving to the elementary school (stop 2), and instead I pulled into our driveway (stop 3). Luckily, my little Dora chirped, “Why did we go home? Awen’t we gowing to pick up my bwother?!” So, I threw the car into reverse and headed to the elementary school, making it just in time for pickup. On the way, we talked about how “silly Mommy” was on autopilot.

“What’s autopilot?” she asked. (Well, it sounded more like: “Whass auwopiwot?”)

Apparently, according to sciencey things, on autopilot, “[w]e can avoid obstacles but fail to notice what the obstacles were or even that there were obstacles.” I’m sure you could twist this into an analogy that goes any which way you want—life is hard, but we get home safe; it’s possible to live a life unaffected by your obstacles? My takeaway is that whether you are aware of it or not, the obstacles remain.

You may avoid them, or survive them, but the obstacles are still there. They are still a danger to someone, will harm someone, trip someone up—maybe a stranger, a neighbor, someone you know, someone you love. Just because you don’t notice the speed bumps, the potholes, the downed wires, the fallen branches, the missing signs, the closed lane, the drifting delivery truck, the rouge raccoon—just because you made it home (this time) doesn’t mean all the things you navigated (maybe easily, maybe safely) weren’t real and present dangers. They were always a danger—to you and to others—you just weren’t present to the reality.

Let’s be present, stay present (dare I say be a present?) to the reality.

Lauren

P.S. I have a present reality to present (in comments…)

Hang on everybody! Get ready for a morning of adventure, laughter and heart-warming fun. Join us on Saturday at 10am for Pride Month crafts for children of all ages and special concessions all to benefit . If you can’t make it, scan the QR code to donate directly to this life-saving organization.