We are Abundant.
Observations from Erie's Pay-What-You-Can Markets - by Erin Falk
I remember when I first learned the word “abundance.” It was in my middle school social studies class, talking of Mesopotamia - the birthplace of modern civilization. Here, early humans abandoned their nomadic ways and rooted themselves in the “Fertile Crescent”. Fertile. Surplus. Abundant. All these words were used over and over again to describe the thriving agriculture of these first societies. However, my middle school self would simply define abundance as having more than you need. In today’s society, it’s my guess that many of us would believe that we don’t have what we need, that in some way, shape, or form, we are all living in lack. We are stuck in a scarcity mindset. I want to present another way - the way of abundance.
I, myself, am just embarking on this new way (and I hope to bring at least one of you with me). I moved into Mount St. Benedict earlier this year as part of the Benedictine Peacemaker program. This year-long monastic immersion has me living in community with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie. I pray their prayers, sing their psalms, eat in the dining room with them, and even ‘clock in’ for my shifts on the dish team and the reception desk. Outside of the monastery, I work in a ministry, like many of the sisters. My ministry is at Groundwork Erie, an environmental justice and youth development non-profit, where my primary focus in this role has been managing the Pay-What-You-Can farmers markets. Working at the markets, I see first-hand the difference between a scarcity mindset and an abundance mindset. I’ve come to learn what it truly means to be abundant and, more importantly, that there is no truth in scarcity.
A wise woman named Kristen, who I am lucky enough to now call my dear friend, often worked these markets with me. There is a phrase she has said a time or two that always sticks with me: “the illusion of separateness.” Kristen explains that this illusion is the root of all suffering. Now, let us ask: why is separateness the root of all suffering? To which I give the answer: separateness means difference, difference comes with comparison, and comparison leads to competition. When we are in competition with one another, some start to “play dirty.” They cheat others out of opportunity. They take what is not theirs. They barrel ahead to the top with no regard for those underneath. Unfortunately, our capitalistic society rewards these behaviors. It sells us individualism and competition. It tells us that if we can do x,y, and z, we can rise up higher in the ranks of our class system. So many of us compete with each other in the world of classist capitalism, not recognizing that it is the reason for our suffering.
Because the Pay-what-You-Can markets offer each individual the autonomy to contribute however much works best for their budget, it exists outside the capitalist structure. We, as people, however, do not. We have been brought up in capitalistic competition. Sometimes, market-goers would bring in this energy of competition and scarcity. This is, of course, at no fault of their own because people only function in the ways in which they know. One specific instance that comes to mind had a man come through to fill his bag with tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. This gentleman did not speak English, so it was a challenge on my part to explain that we needed to weigh his bag before he left. At the markets, we weigh each bag of produce for our own metrics to know how many pounds of food have gone out into the community. This point was not translated well to this man, and he left without weighing his bag. “That man is just leaving with his bag!” “He just took all those tomatoes and didn’t even wait for you to weigh it.” “Look at him walking away with all that food.” I was inundated with complaints from furious neighbors. Although, what I heard in their protestations was not upset because his bag was left unweighed, but rather the notion of comparison. The neighbors viewed his walking away as an act of “playing dirty.” They weren’t aware of the language barrier. They saw him as another man “cheating” the system and barreling to the top with no regard for his surrounding neighbors. This competitive way of thinking is a direct result of a scarcity mindset.
It’s difficult to re-wire that part of the brain - the survival mode that we all know too well. Yet, I would still see glimmers of hope each market day. Sometimes, neighbors would come to take the produce they need, but kept awareness of all the neighbors around them who had come for the same reason. I would witness moments of sharing between these people. Some would pay more because they knew it wasn’t in their neighbors’ means. Questions like “how do I eat an eggplant?” were always answered with new favorite recipes and methods of cooking. In one instance, a woman took the last two green tomatoes - one of our hottest commodities over at the markets. The next woman in line was audibly disappointed. “Here,” said the first woman handing a tomato over, “I’ll get more next week.” I reveled in this beautiful moment for a short while before I checked our back stock under the table. I offered them both the box of tomatoes, as I told them, “Don’t worry, there’s more under the table.” The first woman laughed, “Ah! There’s always more under the table!”
There’s always more under the table. Before we even can fathom stepping into an abundant mindset, we need to realize there’s always more under the table. I’m obviously now speaking metaphorically, as this phrase doesn’t just relate to food at the farmers markets. But think of the things you lack. Money, time, energy? Maybe courage, effort, patience? Now think, aren’t there people out there who have a surplus of money. time. energy. courage. effort. patience. Imagine if they’d spread their abundance to those who have less. Because if anyone out there is without, we are all without. Remember that “illusion of separateness”? This thought extends to all natural things of this planet - water, air, earth, plants, animals, humans. We are not separate. We are one Earth. We operate together. Think back to our earliest selves in Mesopotamia. They walked from place to place in search of methods to survive until they stumbled upon the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. These overflowing streams of water created fertile soil with which us humans could develop irrigation systems and grow sustenance. If some of the first humans accomplished a naturally abundant relationship with the Earth, it would only be correct to assume the Earth is naturally abundant. And if we really are one Earth, it would only make sense that humans are not excluded from this natural abundance. It may not be money, time, energy, courage, effort, or even patience, but everyone is abundant in something. Everyone has a gift to share, something to offer the world. Everyone has more under their table.
I see this concept, along with what I’m calling “the reality of oneness,” amidst the Benedictine monastery every day. The sisters live as a community and operate together. Someone may be scarce in their ability to drive, so another sister who has more under their table will take them to and from their appointments. Someone may be scarce in their time and can’t make it home for dishes, so another sister who is abundant in time and energy will step in. Someone may be scarce in their ability to walk, so another sister will always bring her walker to her following the conclusion of prayer. Even in my small Peacemakers cohort, if someone with ADHD is scarce in motivation to, say, write this essay, another Peacemaker will be there to body double and sit in the same room to motivate them. It should be noted, the acknowledgement that we have personal scarcity in some areas and the trust in the oneness is crucial here. You have to be able to turn to someone and confess, “I am lacking right now, I need help,” to which the natural response should only be “let me offer myself in my areas of abundance.” When we operate like this - together, as a community, sharing what we have to offer - and emulate oneness, we allow ourselves to see through the “illusion of separateness” and understand that abundance is the natural way.
Scarcity is not natural. It is a mirage that has been thrust onto us through systems of competition. The natural way of abundance, or the antidote to this scarcity, is community with each other. It is a twofold process: First, we must believe in community and oneness, and the natural abundance present here on the Earth. Believing this, we can share our gifts with each other wholeheartedly because we know to benefit one person is to benefit all. Second, to live out abundance fully, we must admit our areas of personal scarcity and accept communal aid. I am not wholly abundant. You are not wholly abundant. But together, as one with the Earth, we are abundant.
AUTHOR
Erin Falk (she/they) is a current member of the Benedictine Peacemakers cohort, living in community with the Benedictine Sisters of Erie in a year-long monastic immersion. She is a self-described non-conformist whose passion lies in love, acceptance, and connection to the Earth. When they find free time, Erin likes to spend it outdoors (in any weather except blistering sun!) and creating - whether it be writings, visual art, music, poetry, or dance. Their life’s purpose, as she thinks everyone’s should be, is self-expression.
Hey Erin, when we met at the Benefactors Dinner, you didn’t mention you were a writer, too. There’s always more under the table!
Thanks for sharing your intriguing insights. I’m realizing Groundworks Erie is also about grounding people in (what should be) basic human concepts.
Very nice