Last weekend I attended part of the Treaty People’s Gathering to stop line 3 in Minnesota. On the ride to the gathering, I noticed my body start to tense up with nerves—what was going to happen while I was there? Would I be safe? Would it be worth it to attend? I was going alone and thought about turning around a few times. I had already made calls to my representatives to stop line 3 and read a lot of articles about the pipeline. It was also really hot. Like really really hot. It would have been nice to just relax for a few days instead.

About 30 minutes into my drive and this banter in my head, though, I drove past part of the pipeline construction. And then another part of the construction. And then another. I remembered this pipeline is in my backyard too. If built, it would affect my water too. Maybe most importantly, if the pipeline is built, it would affect my future and the future of the climate.

As I drove further, I got to thinking beyond just myself and my discomforts with the unknowns. Stopping this pipeline was about my generation’s future, clean water, and about upholding treaties that haven’t been honored for a long time. A gathering like this was hardly about me and my discomforts.

When I finally arrived at the multifaith delegation gathering, I met beautiful people from many different faith backgrounds. We prayed together, we sang together, we ate together, and we learned together. Being with that many people from all over the U.S. to pray both actively and passively together was one of the most spiritually satisfying experiences I have had in a long time.

I share my wave of emotions in the first few days with you because I think all too often it can be easier to shy away from doing something that is a little bit uncomfortable, but showing up in person ended up being one of the most powerful forms of active prayer for the water and against line 3 I could have done. As the fight against line 3 continues, I hope I can meet you down by the river soon to pray in fellowship with water protectors and stop line 3.