When I thought about writing today, I wondered where to start. It has been raining all morning, the perfect gray day to write. In a quick walk to the back studio, I spotted robins on our patio. When I came back, they were still there so I stopped to observe. They were standing with their beaks open to the sky, drinking in the rain drops.

It was magnificent to see how they were taking what the day offered them, fresh rain water straight into their mouths. I can imagine how the fresh water may have tasted to their bodies.

What is my heart open to now? What do “these days” offer? Taking what the day offers. Since the quarantine/social isolation started last week, I’ve heard many more intentional conversations (less about TV shows and restaurants), found kids outside playing (some with unconventional toys), witnessed families with “littles”* outside walking the neighborhood and sensed a “simpler” approach as everything that used to be normal has s…….l……..o……..w……..e…….d down.

Since the social isolation policy took effect, I’ve wondering about my Mosaic friends. How do they cope without places to go and people to see? While I miss their personalities and how they transport me to new ground every time we are together, part of me feels immense relief. Stopping all programming means no lesson planning, no communications, no prep/travel time, no meeting times on site, no cleaning up/following up afterwards…this is an extraordinary amount of time given I work part time.

Even before the CD-19 pandemic, I decided that I needed to reorient my work strategy. A couple of weeks back, I sensed that I had lost margin in my life. Everywhere. If I wasn’t finalizing the seed order, developing programming objectives, meeting with a new connection, delivering programming or meeting with internal work teams/relationship building, I was working on developing the new Pilot, The Plant Care Team! It was exciting and exhausting.

Sarah dishing up the broccoli to roast and probably planning her next “dishing” out of directions to the team. She’s a leader!

In addition, I had a phone call with Mosaic the week before the pandemic to organize our schedules with all players. We finalized our meeting times easily. Several hours later, I called one job coach to confirm if I was in agreement for the desires for her and her team. When I explained I couldn’t guarantee where we’d meet every other week, we would meet every other week. She said, “Audrey, if I told the team we were going to the moon on a rocket ship, they would ask: ‘Will Audrey be there’?” It was just what I needed to hear.

I can try and replicate myself but part of the magic that we both experience is our time together. I can put grants, connections and future pilots on hold for a bit. Last year, none of this was in place until early June. This year, we are going back at it with more plants and programming options. I want to give the people my best…not development, not right now anyway. Focusing on the people will allow for more time away from the desk/strategic work. Then, after I locate this margin, I’m going to work on finding margin for being outside to enjoy God’s creation out of doors.

*Kim Nelson Ortiz