Katie’s Journey with the Wild
This post was written by Katie Maness, our coordinator for Evenings with the Wild.
Katie Maness
Is this a terrible idea?
Last summer, I was browsing Facebook's Events tab for interesting opportunities when I saw an event called “Evenings with the Wild.” With a title like that, I had to learn more… I read the event details and was intrigued by the welcoming language and the idea of connecting with God, nature, others, and ourselves through this concept of rewilding (and truthfully, I’m a sucker for the sparkle emoji✨). I had never heard of The Local Church, Denise Honeycutt, or Pat Watkins, but I took a big risk and decided to go anyway.
So, on the evening of June 10, 2024, I drove to the first-ever Evening with Wild.
The road transitioned from asphalt to gravel, and I began to get nervous as I realized I was arriving at the Pittsboro home of total strangers whose address I found on Facebook (sorry, Mom). I tentatively pulled into the driveway and saw a petite, energetic woman approaching my car. When I rolled down the window, Denise Honeycutt introduced herself and confirmed I was in the right place and was the first person to arrive (which never happens).
She and Brent welcomed me and showed me around the beautifully lush yard and home. The space soon filled with people, and we gathered around as Denise explained the plan for the evening… I can’t remember all the details of what we talked about that night.
What I do remember so clearly is that I felt welcomed, safe, and empowered to share what was on my mind and heart. And I was so excited to find others interested in a wilder experience of the divine and in connecting their faith to nature. I have returned to the Watkins/Honeycutt home for all but one Evening with the Wild, and those first feelings have held true every single time.
What is Evenings with the Wild?
Initially once a month, and now every other week, a group of us gathers at Denise and Pat’s wooded oasis of a home. A number of us are repeat attenders, but there’s also a new face or two on many of these Evenings. We share a meal that’s delightfully different every time, thanks to the changing seasons and whims of those who make or bring dishes. Then, after dinner, we take a quiet moment to pause, listen, reflect, and be present–moments that are so hard to come by most days. Then, we talk (and listen).
Some Evenings, this has looked like Pat guiding us through parts of Genesis that illustrate God’s intention for our relationship with the rest of creation. Other Evenings, we have reflected on what we want the future of this gathering to look like. Other Evenings, we’ve simply made space to share how we’re doing during these challenging times.
The folks who participate in these Evenings vary in age, occupation, background, and even denomination/faith tradition, but we share the desire to build authentic community, to experience and learn from creation, and to love and care for it as well. If any or all of that resonates with you, I encourage you to join us. The worst that can happen is that you share a meal with strangers, but you might also find intergenerational friends, an empathetic outlet for your concerns, a new holiday date ball recipe, book recommendations, and a sense of purpose fueled by our shared drive to connect with and care for God’s creation around us.
We hope to see you on Monday, March 3, at 5:45 p.m. for our next Evening with the Wild ✨. Keep up with our upcoming events here, and reach out if you’d like to receive our emails.
