The Sweetness of Community

 

 

The gloom has shifted and the light shines once again.  As I had written in last week's blog, things had been feeling a bit gloomy.  Part of that was due to the loss of a fellow yoga instructor, Scott Sarber, who passed away earlier in July.  His passing was quite a shock to our extended yoga community.  He had just been diagnosed with a stage four lymphoma and within a couple of weeks he had transitioned into whatever awaits us.

 

Scott was quite a character.  Those who met him knew that he had a bristle to him...questioning, challenging, wondering.  He was deeply devotional and loved to chant and dance.  He touched many lives and has left us with many solid memories. 

 

Last year when I was undertaking the Global Seva Challenge for India, Scott asked how he could help and then proceeded to sell a few hundred dollars worth of the Global Wristbands.  He sold out once and needed more.  We'd meet in Koffi to "do the deal".  He'd slide an envelope of cash across the table of what he'd sold and I'd slide a new assortment of brightly colored bands back to him.  This one intention, of stepping into supporting not only me but a greater cause was a reflection of how Scott stepped upon the earth.

 

He even had the grand fundraising idea of a drag queen show at one of the local bars in town.  His enthusiasm outweighed the reality of getting that off the ground but he was excited at the idea nonetheless. 

 

To celebrate Scott's spirit and to come together in our grief, Urban Yoga in Palm Springs held a memorial this past week.  I have been teaching at Urban for two years and have attended many kirtans and other events at this studio.  But this event was different to all others.  We came together to honor and remember Scott through a yoga practice, people sharing thoughts, chanting and a puja (offering) ceremony.  The underlying current was one of pure love.  You could feel that all who had gathered were there in a spirit of being so open and loving.  Judgment and pretense seemed to melt away.  Voices joined in song, hands were held and tears were shed.  Hugging seemed one way to remind us that we are all connected.

 

I felt so honored to be part of this community and grateful for all of the satellite communities that I have as part of my life.  And although I've had the lifelong mantra of "I can do it myself" with a fierce streak of independence, this gathering was a way to feel supported and held by others.  We all need community.  We all need others to lean on.  We all need each other because we are all one.

 

Thanks for the lesson, Scott.  For bringing us together one more time with you leading the way.  May you rest in peace and forever be held in our hearts.

Scott with dear friend, Karol Trejo