We live in a moving universe – continually expanding towards we know not what.

Within such a universe, nothing remains the same and equilibrium can become a dangerous thing, such as believing this is it – especially in the stories we create to make sense of sentient life.  Even things intended for good can become harmful if they are not allowed to move forward.

Lewis Hyde tells of the origins of potluck (potlatch) ceremonies in native American culture when goods would be consumed: food would be eaten but also tents and goods would be burned – a form of eating.  The Haida people even referred to their potlatch as “killing wealth.”  When something is owned, problems follow.  In this world, a gift is meant to keep moving; when someone keeps it as their own they’ve done something wrong.*

Seth Godin writes about how a gift creates disequilibrium, creating a world of giving over one of having.  Fifty-one per cent giving to forty-nine is enough to begin.

We live in a potlatch universe, inviting us to keep moving, to keep what we have moving, to consume what we need and to see what we can do with the rest.

‘No one is born graceful.  It’s not a gift, it’s a choice.’**

Being graceful is about making our life a gift to others, whether we think they deserve it or not (the universe has graced life to us).  Seth Godin offers this thought.

(*From Lewis Hyde’s The Gift.)
(**From Seth Godin’s Graceful.)