Third Space
Cycles of Growth
December 2025
North River Mills, West Virginia
Gathering:
This month, six of us braved the weather to meet and contemplate the cycles of life and the ways we are called to change through life’s seasons. While several regular participants were in attendance, we were also pleased to be joined by visitors who drove down from both Maryland and New Jersey.
Opening Reflections:
We opened the meeting by discussing adaptation and the importance of releasing our grip on things that no longer serve us as we endeavor to continue growing and thriving in life. This initial conversation set the tone for a broader reflection on change, resilience, and presence.
Themes and Discussion:
As we dove deeper into the meeting, we discussed the possibility of abundance through devastation. We talked about how, in each of our lives, we have experienced times when our sense of normalcy was taken away, only to open us to development and growth we had been reluctant to accept. Like a forest after a fire, we agreed that our lives often realign after tragedy, allowing us to grow in ways we hadn’t anticipated or were otherwise unwilling to initiate on our own.
Several floods were remembered by participants, especially the flood of 1985. Now forty years out from the devastation brought on by the rising of the banks of the Potomac, participants explored ways the destruction of the ’85 flood united the people of the South Branch Valley in ways that continue today. We talked about how, when the normal facets of life—grocery stores, restaurants, theaters, and routines—are stripped away, we connect in forgotten but meaningful ways. We ascertained that the process of healing from the historic wounds brought on by the floods of ’85 in the southeastern and ’96 in the northeastern parts of the county allowed for needed growth and connection for the people of the region.
Gradually, it became apparent that it is important to define and redefine what it means to thrive. At times, we can be blinded by how we seek success and recognition and fail to see ourselves thriving on our own terms. Silence and privacy surfaced as needed elements of personal growth. We discovered that when we strive for status or acceptance, we sometimes miss the beauty and significance of what we are being called to experience and share with others.
Similarly, we acknowledged that obligation and routine can get in the way of our development and presence. Often, we say “yes” to everything that comes our way, which limits our ability to focus on where we are truly inspired and able to contribute and participate. We considered the importance of admitting that the ways we engage change over time, while recognizing that, foundationally, our intentions and true joys seldom change and seldom need to.
Finally, we considered how our circles of engagement grow and develop over time. As the old proverb says, make new friends, but keep the old, we recognized the importance of changing and growing without leaving behind the meaningful relationships and contributions we have made in the past. Our past serves as a framework to grow from and add to as we continue to improvise on the unique light that informs each and every one of us.
Creative Practice:
Our meeting concluded with a musical contribution from Ben Townsend that explored cyclical growth by showcasing how several notes, extended over several voices, could grow and expand through a series of cycles.
Looking Ahead:
We invite you to listen to this sonic exploration below, and join us online on January 17 at 6:30 PM as we begin using these cold months to explore how the Third Space project might expand beyond its origins in North River Mills. A Zoom link will be shared through the email list and on Facebook.