Volunteer Appreciation for David G.
David’s path to KCC began in an unlikely place: Patricia’s driveway.
“I came to KCC because I had a meltdown in Patricia’s driveway, as is my mail manly norm, and asked about meditation.” Patricia suggested that he seek guidance from the lamas, and Tim responded to his first email and directed him toward the Sangha.
At the time, David was a lifelong agnostic who had spent decades rejecting religion. But he had always been curious about reincarnation and philosophy. When he began exploring Buddhism, something immediately resonated. “I went from idle curiosity to basically studying Buddhism in all my free time instantly.”
That curiosity became more serious when David began having experiences he could not easily explain. Rather than dismissing them, he approached them as a person committed to reason and evidence: “Evidence is to be processed and followed. Belief has no merit against the force of evidence.”
For David, Buddhist practice is about investigation and experience. He describes his journey as feeling less like a conscious choice and more like being pulled in a particular direction. After some powerful meditation experiences, he says, “I just stopped thinking about it and went towards that feeling as my default guide now.”
That same approach seems to guide his service to KCC. David joined the volunteer team because, as he puts it, “you maintain the things you use or you do not have such things.” He simply looks for what needs doing and contributes where he can, helping with repairs and maintenance, keeping the kitchen in order, and, naturally, cooking.
For David, cooking is another form of service: notice what is needed and help. Craig Hill describes the David many of us have come to know: “Each Sunday I’ve attended KCC, David has greeted me at the door with his signature flair and joyful disposition. A welcome sight, every single time! David is a wonderful cook, and I’m especially grateful for all the times he’s kept me fed when I’ve forgotten to grab a bite on the way out the door. May my own actions be as nourishing as David’s focaccia, for beings equaling the limits of space!”
David is also a devoted friend to animals, from the skunks and squirrels he cares for to the crows who seem to know and love him. As Craig says, David is “dearly beloved by the crows who watch over our center and help keep our center safe.”
Thank you, David, for your curiosity, your generosity, your joyful presence, and for all the ways you nourish our Sangha. We are so lucky to have you!
