[Applause] so how many of you have ever had the
so how many of you have ever had the
so how many of you have ever had the unfortunate privilege of witnessing the
unfortunate privilege of witnessing the
unfortunate privilege of witnessing the toddler tantrum it’s terrible right
toddler tantrum it’s terrible right
toddler tantrum it’s terrible right the crying the screaming the parents
the crying the screaming the parents
the crying the screaming the parents like myself trying to use logic and
like myself trying to use logic and
like myself trying to use logic and reason with three-year-olds well this is
reason with three-year-olds well this is
reason with three-year-olds well this is exactly where I found myself on a Sunday
exactly where I found myself on a Sunday
exactly where I found myself on a Sunday morning
morning
morning this past summer only the kicker was I
this past summer only the kicker was I
this past summer only the kicker was I was at church now my family goes to
was at church now my family goes to
was at church now my family goes to church regularly but for some reason on
church regularly but for some reason on
church regularly but for some reason on this particular Sunday my three-year-old
this particular Sunday my three-year-old
this particular Sunday my three-year-old daughter
daughter
daughter juniper Ruth decided that it was a grave
juniper Ruth decided that it was a grave
juniper Ruth decided that it was a grave injustice that there weren’t more snacks
injustice that there weren’t more snacks
injustice that there weren’t more snacks and snack breaks at church and so my
and snack breaks at church and so my
and snack breaks at church and so my husband Travis and I we were trying to
husband Travis and I we were trying to
husband Travis and I we were trying to handle this situation which basically
handle this situation which basically
handle this situation which basically means it was going terribly and so I did
means it was going terribly and so I did
means it was going terribly and so I did the only thing I could think of to do
the only thing I could think of to do
the only thing I could think of to do which is I scooped juniper onto my lap I
which is I scooped juniper onto my lap I
which is I scooped juniper onto my lap I held her really tight closed my eyes and
held her really tight closed my eyes and
held her really tight closed my eyes and I took a deep breath and I did the
I took a deep breath and I did the
I took a deep breath and I did the internal mother scream for help and when
internal mother scream for help and when
internal mother scream for help and when I opened my eyes I was shocked to
I opened my eyes I was shocked to
I opened my eyes I was shocked to realize that help had arrived
realize that help had arrived
realize that help had arrived unfortunately though that help had
unfortunately though that help had
unfortunately though that help had arrived in the form of a bear a big
arrived in the form of a bear a big
arrived in the form of a bear a big beautiful black bear was walking
beautiful black bear was walking
beautiful black bear was walking straight towards my family and I in the
straight towards my family and I in the
straight towards my family and I in the middle of church
now there might be some confusion at
now there might be some confusion at this point because what did you picture
this point because what did you picture
this point because what did you picture when I said my family went to church a
when I said my family went to church a
when I said my family went to church a building some pews it’s not exactly bear
building some pews it’s not exactly bear
building some pews it’s not exactly bear country right but what I mean
country right but what I mean
country right but what I mean when I say my family goes to church is
when I say my family goes to church is
when I say my family goes to church is that we go out into nature and we talk
that we go out into nature and we talk
that we go out into nature and we talk about spirituality we’ve come to call
about spirituality we’ve come to call
about spirituality we’ve come to call this do-it-yourself church and we’ve
this do-it-yourself church and we’ve
this do-it-yourself church and we’ve been doing it for four years and it has
been doing it for four years and it has
been doing it for four years and it has changed our lives now Travis and I
changed our lives now Travis and I
changed our lives now Travis and I stumbled into this practice when I was
stumbled into this practice when I was
stumbled into this practice when I was pregnant he asked me do you think that
pregnant he asked me do you think that
pregnant he asked me do you think that we’ll join a church once we’re parents
we’ll join a church once we’re parents
we’ll join a church once we’re parents and we talked about it and as we did we
and we talked about it and as we did we
and we talked about it and as we did we were really sure we wanted spirituality
were really sure we wanted spirituality
were really sure we wanted spirituality in our family life and we were also
in our family life and we were also
in our family life and we were also really sure that we did not feel like we
really sure that we did not feel like we
really sure that we did not feel like we fit in any of the regular churches and
fit in any of the regular churches and
fit in any of the regular churches and we kind of didn’t know what to do
we kind of didn’t know what to do
we kind of didn’t know what to do and perhaps you have had this same
and perhaps you have had this same
and perhaps you have had this same question or dilemma at some point in
question or dilemma at some point in
question or dilemma at some point in your life and then a couple of weeks
your life and then a couple of weeks
your life and then a couple of weeks later we were out for a hike and we
later we were out for a hike and we
later we were out for a hike and we picked back up the conversation only
picked back up the conversation only
picked back up the conversation only this time we asked some other questions
this time we asked some other questions
this time we asked some other questions and these were why can’t being outside
and these were why can’t being outside
and these were why can’t being outside which we both love so much be our church
which we both love so much be our church
which we both love so much be our church and why can’t we be as committed to it
and why can’t we be as committed to it
and why can’t we be as committed to it as other people are – inside church and
as other people are – inside church and
as other people are – inside church and of course the answer to these questions
of course the answer to these questions
of course the answer to these questions is that we could and so that’s exactly
is that we could and so that’s exactly
is that we could and so that’s exactly what we did now I think one of the
what we did now I think one of the
what we did now I think one of the reasons this practice has stuck for my
reasons this practice has stuck for my
reasons this practice has stuck for my family is that it’s simple I’m the
family is that it’s simple I’m the
family is that it’s simple I’m the mother of a small child it has to be
mother of a small child it has to be
mother of a small child it has to be simple so first pick a day and time and
simple so first pick a day and time and
simple so first pick a day and time and commit to the practice and keep that
commit to the practice and keep that
commit to the practice and keep that commitment to go out into nature and
commitment to go out into nature and
commitment to go out into nature and spend
spend
spend I’m being with nature turn off your
I’m being with nature turn off your
I’m being with nature turn off your devices 3 pick a spiritual theme or
devices 3 pick a spiritual theme or
devices 3 pick a spiritual theme or reading maybe a piece of poetry and
reading maybe a piece of poetry and
reading maybe a piece of poetry and bring it with you and while you’re
bring it with you and while you’re
bring it with you and while you’re outside reflect on it talk about it and
outside reflect on it talk about it and
outside reflect on it talk about it and if you can take a piece of it and post
if you can take a piece of it and post
if you can take a piece of it and post it in your house somewhere so that
it in your house somewhere so that
it in your house somewhere so that during the week you see it and that’s it
during the week you see it and that’s it
during the week you see it and that’s it three simple steps but in addition to
three simple steps but in addition to
three simple steps but in addition to the simplicity I think DIY church has
the simplicity I think DIY church has
the simplicity I think DIY church has also stuck for us because it’s profound
also stuck for us because it’s profound
also stuck for us because it’s profound it has an impact as an example a couple
it has an impact as an example a couple
it has an impact as an example a couple of weeks ago I had had a really long
of weeks ago I had had a really long
of weeks ago I had had a really long week and when I woke up Sunday morning I
week and when I woke up Sunday morning I
week and when I woke up Sunday morning I was tired and I was cranky and the last
was tired and I was cranky and the last
was tired and I was cranky and the last thing that I felt like doing was
thing that I felt like doing was
thing that I felt like doing was spending a whole morning with my family
spending a whole morning with my family
spending a whole morning with my family in a location that would not provide
in a location that would not provide
in a location that would not provide adequate coffee but because of the
adequate coffee but because of the
adequate coffee but because of the commitment we went and we drove up into
commitment we went and we drove up into
commitment we went and we drove up into the mountains and then when we got there
the mountains and then when we got there
the mountains and then when we got there Travis and I proceeded to have our
Travis and I proceeded to have our
Travis and I proceeded to have our favorite fight which is are we gonna
favorite fight which is are we gonna
favorite fight which is are we gonna take this beautifully established trail
take this beautifully established trail
take this beautifully established trail or are we gonna bushwhack either up or
or are we gonna bushwhack either up or
or are we gonna bushwhack either up or down the side of a mountain and I’m sure
down the side of a mountain and I’m sure
down the side of a mountain and I’m sure you’re really clear from my tone where I
you’re really clear from my tone where I
you’re really clear from my tone where I fall on this but I love trails my
fall on this but I love trails my
fall on this but I love trails my husband hates them and on this
husband hates them and on this
husband hates them and on this particular Sunday
particular Sunday
particular Sunday I lost the argument and so I found
I lost the argument and so I found
I lost the argument and so I found myself slipping and sliding down this
myself slipping and sliding down this
myself slipping and sliding down this mountain slope but as I was doing it I
mountain slope but as I was doing it I
mountain slope but as I was doing it I noticed that I was changing because the
noticed that I was changing because the
noticed that I was changing because the act of getting down that mountain slope
act of getting down that mountain slope
act of getting down that mountain slope became a form of meditation and I
became a form of meditation and I
became a form of meditation and I stopped holding so tightly
stopped holding so tightly
stopped holding so tightly my anger and my tiredness and then I
my anger and my tiredness and then I
my anger and my tiredness and then I looked up and my heart was just filled
looked up and my heart was just filled
looked up and my heart was just filled with ah and joy because I saw my brave
with ah and joy because I saw my brave
with ah and joy because I saw my brave juniper Ruth making her way down this
juniper Ruth making her way down this
juniper Ruth making her way down this same slope and at the same time she was
same slope and at the same time she was
same slope and at the same time she was singing a song about sharks and cupcakes
singing a song about sharks and cupcakes
singing a song about sharks and cupcakes and sticks and it sounds like a terrible
and sticks and it sounds like a terrible
and sticks and it sounds like a terrible song but she had managed to craft it
song but she had managed to craft it
song but she had managed to craft it into a ridiculous and beautiful hymn you
into a ridiculous and beautiful hymn you
into a ridiculous and beautiful hymn you know at least to my mama tears and we
know at least to my mama tears and we
know at least to my mama tears and we all made it safely down and when we got
all made it safely down and when we got
all made it safely down and when we got there we found this beautiful little
there we found this beautiful little
there we found this beautiful little creek that we had been looking for and
creek that we had been looking for and
creek that we had been looking for and we took out a book that we had been
we took out a book that we had been
we took out a book that we had been reading about compassion and we read and
reading about compassion and we read and
reading about compassion and we read and we talked about compassion and then
we talked about compassion and then
we talked about compassion and then because we have a three-year-old we
because we have a three-year-old we
because we have a three-year-old we talked about whether sharks have the
talked about whether sharks have the
talked about whether sharks have the capacity for compassion we’re still
capacity for compassion we’re still
capacity for compassion we’re still unclear about that but you know I was
unclear about that but you know I was
unclear about that but you know I was not the same woman I had been when I had
not the same woman I had been when I had
not the same woman I had been when I had woken up as I was by the end of that day
woken up as I was by the end of that day
woken up as I was by the end of that day and to me this is why DIY church is so
and to me this is why DIY church is so
and to me this is why DIY church is so profound because it encourages you to
profound because it encourages you to
profound because it encourages you to notice and it invites you to change and
notice and it invites you to change and
notice and it invites you to change and after a couple of years I noticed that
after a couple of years I noticed that
after a couple of years I noticed that my family was changing in some pretty
my family was changing in some pretty
my family was changing in some pretty significant ways we were all vastly less
significant ways we were all vastly less
significant ways we were all vastly less stressed and our schedules were less
stressed and our schedules were less
stressed and our schedules were less hectic and our health had improved we
hectic and our health had improved we
hectic and our health had improved we were cooking and eating at home most
were cooking and eating at home most
were cooking and eating at home most nights and Travis and I managed to
nights and Travis and I managed to
nights and Travis and I managed to tackle some pretty big health habit
tackle some pretty big health habit
tackle some pretty big health habit changes that we had been unable to do
changes that we had been unable to do
changes that we had been unable to do for years
for years
for years now it was these health habit changes
now it was these health habit changes
now it was these health habit changes that really got me wondering because in
that really got me wondering because in
that really got me wondering because in addition to being a mom and a wife and a
addition to being a mom and a wife and a
addition to being a mom and a wife and a lover of trails I am also a graduate
lover of trails I am also a graduate
lover of trails I am also a graduate student in public health and I’m
student in public health and I’m
student in public health and I’m passionate about data and research and
passionate about data and research and
passionate about data and research and so I started to wonder what does the
so I started to wonder what does the
so I started to wonder what does the research stay about spirituality and
research stay about spirituality and
research stay about spirituality and health and nature and so I looked into
health and nature and so I looked into
health and nature and so I looked into this research and I want to share just
this research and I want to share just
this research and I want to share just two things that I learned that really
two things that I learned that really
two things that I learned that really impacted me on a personal level
impacted me on a personal level
impacted me on a personal level so first spirituality is like this
so first spirituality is like this
so first spirituality is like this amazing buffer so when life gets hard as
amazing buffer so when life gets hard as
amazing buffer so when life gets hard as it does for each and every one of us
it does for each and every one of us
it does for each and every one of us spirituality can help keep us from
spirituality can help keep us from
spirituality can help keep us from running over that cliff into addictions
running over that cliff into addictions
running over that cliff into addictions and depression in short it makes us more
and depression in short it makes us more
and depression in short it makes us more resilient second our bodies they love
resilient second our bodies they love
resilient second our bodies they love nature turns out there’s now a number of
nature turns out there’s now a number of
nature turns out there’s now a number of research studies that show that when we
research studies that show that when we
research studies that show that when we spend more time in nature markers of
spend more time in nature markers of
spend more time in nature markers of health that researchers look at things
health that researchers look at things
health that researchers look at things like blood pressure cholesterol mental
like blood pressure cholesterol mental
like blood pressure cholesterol mental health these in proof and even our
health these in proof and even our
health these in proof and even our capacity for empathy now I’ll be honest
capacity for empathy now I’ll be honest
capacity for empathy now I’ll be honest and say that I would have kept doing DIY
and say that I would have kept doing DIY
and say that I would have kept doing DIY church even if I’d found nothing in the
church even if I’d found nothing in the
church even if I’d found nothing in the research to support it but the fact that
research to support it but the fact that
research to support it but the fact that I did has definitely made me more
I did has definitely made me more
I did has definitely made me more committed to the practice and is really
committed to the practice and is really
committed to the practice and is really what encouraged me to want to share what
what encouraged me to want to share what
what encouraged me to want to share what is a personal family practice with all
is a personal family practice with all
is a personal family practice with all of you because I really do believe that
of you because I really do believe that
of you because I really do believe that everyone you can craft a meaningful DIY
everyone you can craft a meaningful DIY
everyone you can craft a meaningful DIY Church practice and I believe that doing
Church practice and I believe that doing
Church practice and I believe that doing so will improve your health I also
so will improve your health I also
so will improve your health I also believe that if you’re already the
believe that if you’re already the
believe that if you’re already the member of a church or another faith
member of a church or another faith
member of a church or another faith community and you love that this
community and you love that this
community and you love that this practice still has merit take something
practice still has merit take something
practice still has merit take something that you hear in church out for a hike
that you hear in church out for a hike
that you hear in church out for a hike or a walk and see how nature changes you
or a walk and see how nature changes you
or a walk and see how nature changes you and changes that message that you heard
but I want to make sure that I answer
but I want to make sure that I answer the most important question which of
the most important question which of
the most important question which of course is what about the bear in the
course is what about the bear in the
course is what about the bear in the middle of church well it turns out bears
middle of church well it turns out bears
middle of church well it turns out bears are no match for the toddler tantrum
are no match for the toddler tantrum
are no match for the toddler tantrum that bear assessed the situation
that bear assessed the situation
that bear assessed the situation heard the crying and the screaming spun
heard the crying and the screaming spun
heard the crying and the screaming spun right around ran up the hill as fast as
right around ran up the hill as fast as
right around ran up the hill as fast as it could and juniper Ruth who I was
it could and juniper Ruth who I was
it could and juniper Ruth who I was hoping would have this on spired nature
hoping would have this on spired nature
hoping would have this on spired nature moment at seeing her first bear turned
moment at seeing her first bear turned
moment at seeing her first bear turned to me and said and I quote mama I don’t
to me and said and I quote mama I don’t
to me and said and I quote mama I don’t care about bears right now I want my
care about bears right now I want my
care about bears right now I want my snacks
and I know this sounds like a total
and I know this sounds like a total church failure this whole scene but to
church failure this whole scene but to
church failure this whole scene but to me it’s the perfect example of why DIY
me it’s the perfect example of why DIY
me it’s the perfect example of why DIY church is so amazing because in that
church is so amazing because in that
church is so amazing because in that moment my humanity around things like
moment my humanity around things like
moment my humanity around things like dealing with a toddler tantrum were
dealing with a toddler tantrum were
dealing with a toddler tantrum were pressed right up against my spiritual
pressed right up against my spiritual
pressed right up against my spiritual ideals around patience and love and then
ideals around patience and love and then
ideals around patience and love and then a bear entered the mix and I had to just
a bear entered the mix and I had to just
a bear entered the mix and I had to just throw up my hands and laugh and try to
throw up my hands and laugh and try to
throw up my hands and laugh and try to learn that lesson yet again that grace
learn that lesson yet again that grace
learn that lesson yet again that grace comes in many forms and most often not
comes in many forms and most often not
comes in many forms and most often not the form I want DIY church is a simple
the form I want DIY church is a simple
the form I want DIY church is a simple and profound practice I invite each and
and profound practice I invite each and
and profound practice I invite each and every one of you to try it but please
every one of you to try it but please
every one of you to try it but please please bring enough snacks thank you
”
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