While my actual time as a YAV in New Orleans ended almost three months ago, just this past weekend I attended a transition retreat that more officially brought my YAV experience to a close. First, go ahead and click here to read what I wrote about reentry last year. (This is partly to save myself from typing similar words again, and partly because I think my words last year are still fitting. It will also make sense of this post's title.)
This past weekend was filled with wonderful reunions, challenging conversations, and some time just staring at the stars. I continue to be so grateful for my time as a Young Adult Volunteer, and I am positive that the things I have witnessed, experienced, and learned in the past two years will continue to shape the person I am and the person I am becoming. My two reentry experiences at Ghost Ranch were just about as different as my two years, I think, but both were meaningful experiences and we YAV(A) are lucky to be part of a program that provides them for us.
Those are about all the words I can collect at this point, so I'll leave you with a prayer of sorts that was amongst the worksheets and materials we were given during the retreat. After that are a few pictures from a hike some of us took during our free time, for those of you who have yet to witness the beauty of Ghost Ranch.
Love,
Allison.
A Non-Traditional Blessing
Sister Ruth Fox
May God bless us with discontent with easy answers, half truths, superifical relationships, so that we will live from deep within our hearts,
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, abuse and exploitation of people, so that we shall work for justice, equality, and peace,
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that we shall reach out our hands to comfort them and to change their pain to joy,
May God bless us with the foolishness to think we can make a difference in this world, so that we shall do the things which others tell us cannot be done.
If we have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless us with
happiness -- because we shall know that we have made life better for others
inner peace -- because we shall have worked to secure an outer peace for others
laughter -- because our hearts will be light
faithful friends -- because they will recognize our worth as people
These blessings are ours -- not for the asking, but for the giving -- from One who wants to be our companion, our God, who lives and reigns, forever and ever,
Amen.
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| The small group of buildings towards the right is Ghost Ranch. |
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| Chimney Rock |
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