COMMUNITY
Thursday, August 12, 2021
Three ways to forge connections
MARC
MULLINS
MARC’S REMARKS
A
s an ordained minister in the Chris-
tian Church (Disciples of Christ),
I embrace my denomination’s
purpose, which states in part: “We are
Disciples of Christ, a movement for whole-
ness in a fragmented world.” The world is in
desperate need of wholeness. In the throes
of the COVID-19 virus, we are experienc-
ing brokenness politically, theologically,
socially and economically.
To help us move toward wholeness,
we must be diligent to communicate and
connect with those who we perceive as
different from, or opposed to, ourselves.
By connection, I mean the intentional act
of recognizing others as viable human
beings, each deserving of respect. We have
witnessed such connection as it was demon-
strated among athletes from around the
world in the recent Olympic Games.
Here are three ways we can connect
despite our differences with others.
Mirroring
Steven Covey has said, “Most people
don’t listen with the intent to understand;
most listen with the intent to reply.” How
many times have you been engaged in a
conversation where the other person didn’t
appear to hear a word you said but was just
waiting to interject so they could say what
was on their mind?
Mirroring is repeating to the speaker
what you’ve heard them say. Statements
BLOOMIN’ BLUES
Name: Sulphur Buckwheat
Scientific Name: Eriogonum umbellatum
This highly variable plant is found in
varied habits, from sagebrush desert and foot-
hills to alpine ridges, talus slopes and rock
crevices. It is found from British Columbia to
Alberta and Montana, and south to California
to New Mexico. In the U.S., there are at least
47 known varieties of the plant, of which 11
are in Oregon.
All the varieties of this plant have their
flowers borne in umbels or compound
umbels. They may be shrubs or herbs, and the
flowers vary from white to yellow or red. The
striking flower umbels in the Blues include
A7
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Pendleton library offers
‘STEM-ulating’ materials
such as, “If I understand you correctly, this
is what I heard you say …” can help clarify
what the other person is saying.
PENDLETON — The Pendleton
Public Library will unveil its newest offer-
ings during an event it promises will be
“STEM-ulating.”
Patrons soon can check out STEAM-
themed activities and gadgets as easy as
checking out a book. The public is invited
to take a test drive with library staff Friday,
Aug. 13, at 10:30 a.m. at 502 S.W. Dorion
Ave. The library items include a program-
mable rover, Sphero mini robot balls, drones
and more. Also, the chief engineer of Pend-
leton’s UAS Test Range and his team will be
conducting drone demonstrations.
The library is adding a series of activities
dedicated to the STEAM fields of science,
technology, engineering, the arts and math
to its popular Library of Things section,
thanks in part to a grant from Pacific Power
Foundation. It’s all part of Pacific Power’s
effort to strengthen its communities and
build brighter opportunities for the future
by creating and supporting hands-on, inclu-
sive learning opportunities for children,
teens and young adults.
The Library of Things already offers
patrons access to free regional museums, a
telescope, a paddleboard and bocce balls, as
well as wifi hotspots and Chromebooks. In
addition, the library will use the materials to
host a series of STEAM-focused events and
conduct outreach to area schools.
Also, on the last Tuesday of each month,
the library will host a STEAM-themed
Crafternoon. It will feature hands-on proj-
ects for children ages 3 and up — the first
will be held Tuesday, Aug. 31, at 4:30 p.m..
The library also is planning to reach out to
science teachers at area middle schools and
high schools and a local home school asso-
ciation to plan lessons and provide materials
for in-class instruction.
For more information, call 541- 966-0380
or visit www.pendleton.or.us/library.
Empathizing
Dr. Harville Hendrix defines empathy as
“the capacity for one individual to imagine
or experience the emotional state of another
person even when they have not had a simi-
lar experience.”
Who, while watching the Olympics,
didn’t cringe when seeing a runner stumble
and fall when in the race for a medal? Years
of hard work in training sorely impacted in
one brief moment. When we strive to imag-
ine what the other person is feeling, based
on their experiences shared, we can begin to
have a sense of connecting with that person.
And that connection can evoke understand-
ing, safety and trust.
Validating
Many people talk at, around or over
each other rather than listen to truly under-
stand each other. We can take a differ-
ent approach. When in conversation with
someone we don’t see eye-to-eye with, we
can choose to say, “Although I don’t feel the
same as you, what you’ve shared helps me
better understand. I can see why you’d think
that.”
We can promote wholeness in the world
as we strive to let people know we hear
them (mirroring), understand them (empa-
thizing), and that even though we may not
share their particular view, we still respect
their right to believe as they do and regard
them as valid human beings (validating).
———
Marc Mullins is co-pastor of the First
Christian Church of Pendleton.
Sulphur buckwheat endemic to West
BRUCE
BARNES
East Oregonian
varieties with large,
erect, bright yellow
umbels, others with
cream-colored umbels,
and low-growing,
yellow to red umbels
on the ground.
Many Indian tribes
had medicinal uses for some yellow-flowered
varieties of this plant and also used the leaves
for a tea. Medicinal uses included treatment
of ptomaine poisoning, colds, sores, stom-
achaches, burns, lameness, rheumatism and
maternal fevers following a birth.
Where to find: I’ve seen this plant along
the roadside on Highway 11 into Pendleton,
and along Ruckel Ridge at upper elevations
in the Blues.
———
Bruce Barnes directs Flora ID, produc-
ing plant ID software, found at flora-id.org.
Reach him at flora.id@wtechlink.us.
Master bonsai teacher to
lead workshop
PENDLETON — People can receive
lessons on sculpting, shaping, wiring and
tree care during an upcoming bonsai tree
workshop.
Lee Cheatle, a master bonsai teacher
from Tigard, will offer the class Wednesday,
Aug. 18, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Thurs-
day, Aug. 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The workshop will be at the home of Roy
and Valerie Conner, 414 N.W. Fourth St.,
Pendleton.
Cost of the four-hour workshop is $80
and includes your own juniper tree. Class
sessions are limited to eight people, and
pre-registration is required. To register for
either class, contact vmconner@msn.com
or 503-453-7193.
Organizers reschedule
economic summit
HERMISTON — The Eastern Oregon
Women’s Coalition and sponsors of the
2021 Eastern Oregon Economic Summit
are rescheduling the event for Oct. 7-8 at
Hermiston High School.
“Out of an abundance of caution related
to the recent increase of COVID-19 cases in
Oregon and because the Economic Summit
is a large indoor event, we are rescheduling
for early fall,” said Bobby Levy, president
of the Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition.
“We are excited to bring this event back into
the region in 2021 and believe the new dates
will accommodate better engagement for
attendees.”
The agenda, including the field and
industry tours, will remain the same and
tickets will automatically be transferred
to the new dates. Hotel reservations at the
Holiday Inn Express in Hermiston made
with the event’s discount code also will be
automatically transferred to the new dates.
The summit kicks off Thursday, Oct.
7, with industry tours and a dinner/recep-
tion, and continues Oct. 8, with a general
session and breakout discussions. Transpor-
tation will be provided for the tours. Tickets,
which range from $25-$40, are available at
www.easternoregonsummit.com.
Farm Bureau seeks photos
for calendar
SALEM — The Oregon Farm Bureau is
seeking photographs featuring all aspects of
Oregon agriculture for possible inclusion in
its 2022 Oregon’s Bounty Calendar.
Photos can show the products, people,
production and landscape — anything that
depicts the beauty, technology, culture or
tradition of family farming and ranching in
Oregon. Everything from farmers markets
and fields in bloom to ranch scenes, farmers
preparing for harvest and more are appro-
priate. Horizontal, high-resolution images
— both close-ups and panoramic views —
are sought of all types of agriculture in all
seasons.
The deadline for submissions is Sept. 15.
Photographers do not have to be members of
the farm bureau to send an image.
Everyone who submits an picture and
provides their mailing address will receive a
complimentary copy of the calendar, which
is valued at $20. Those whose photographs
are selected will receive photo credit in the
publication.
The award-winning calendar is mailed
to more than 64,000 farm bureau members
across the state and thousands more are
distributed throughout the year.
Submission instructions and rules are
available at www.oregonfb.org/calendar.
For questions, contact Anne Marie Moss at
503-399-1701 or annemarie@oregonfb.org.
— EO Media Group
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