Macon Magazine

70 maconmagazine.com | December 2024/January 2025 C U P S A N D W A T E R Our stories shine In a city with houses of faith on nearly every corner, Rev. Dr. Erin Robinson Hall's column explores the interconnectedness of Macon's faith communities and the diverse ways Maconites nourish their spiritual health and the wellbeing of those around them, inspired by "On Being" podcast host Krista Tippet's idea that "religion is as cup; spirituality is as water." TheoEd shines a spotlight on diverse faith journeys with courage in this event, reminiscent of a TED-talk style performance. and our senses that help us connect to the world in which we dwell. I attended a headphones-off kind of moment for connection recently. TheoEd Macon, an event run by The Candler Foundry at Emory University, is a speaker series in the style of TED Talks that happens in different cities. Founding Director Ryan Bonfiglio says TheoEd is a series of "brief talks, big ideas." TheoEd came to Macon through Rev. Ted Goshorn, previous pastor of Mulberry Street United Methodist Church, because he thought this would be "a uniting force for our Macon community," said Rev. Sara Pugh-Montgomery. Mulberry Street UMC, High Street Unitarian Universalist Church, St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, Temple Beth Israel, Centenary United Methodist Church, and Wesleyan College joined efforts to develop the one-night event. Bonfiglio said faith leaders saw a need here. "People are hurting, and feeling stuck and STORY AND PHOTOS BY REV. DR. ERIN ROBINSON HALL HEADSHOT BY JESSICA WHITLEY W hat's the first thing I do to get ready for my daily walk each morning? Grab my headphones to make sure they are charged. Sneakers on, I want those little earbuds for a podcast or upbeat music. The sounds give me something on which to focus, to forget I am trudging uphill or feeling tired. Sometimes, my earbuds aren't charged, or they are not where I keep them. My annoyance bubbles up, but off I go. Frustrated, I walk on. "I'll just listen to the birds!" I grouch. My playlist silenced, I begin to hear my footsteps and dogs barking. I notice the air. I hear the cars rev up, and I consider where my neighbors are going. Walking through my neighborhood without the protective buffer of headphones is an act of grounding and connection. Annoyed though I may be, research says we are better for it. Embodied practices - walking, singing, holding, breathing - are actions we participate in with our bodies

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