Eco-chaplain, facilitator, writer, and founder of Kin SF, a Sunday morning gathering in San Francisco that reconnects people with the living world and each other.
I'm currently earning a master's degree in Ecology, Spirituality, and Religion at CIIS.
Hello. I’m Joshua.
Relationship is why we're here.
The last couple of decades (and I’m sure longer) have felt like a series of empty promises: Social media will make us more connected. Mobile technology will make our lives infinitely easier. Convenience will smooth out the edges of day-to-day life.
Time after time, these promises morphed into wounds: We’re at each other’s throats more than ever. Loneliness spread wider and deeper. Our lives grew more frantic and squeezed. Human touch becomes more rare. The hypnotic nature of screens draws our attention from the wonders of the natural world.
What I've come to realize is our relationships, with humans and all living beings, serve as the foundation for meaning and fulfillment. Reciprocal acts of everyday life:
Deep laughter with a friend
Hanging out with a pet, enjoying the present moment
Holding a loved one's hand who just received hard news
Tending and pruning an overgrown garden
Showing up for the birthday, the wedding, the simple hang in the park
Holding the door open for a stranger
“Ultimately, kin relationality is a path to sustainable collective well-being...when humans feel a sense of safety and kinship with Mother Earth, we flourish.”