Why YAGM?

As our time wraps up here in Johannesburg, i've had some time for reflection and thought on what it is that i'm truly watching unfold in my life at this point and time. With everything that has gone on in the last 11 days, its definitely taken some time to process it all. For the time being this is what i've come up with.
When i first turned my application in for YAGM last September I honestly can't tell you why. It was a program i had always thought would be an interesting opportunity, but was always too wrapped up in starting a career and being an "adult" to look much further then that. I think the excitement of just coming off of an entire summer at Christikon may have majorly played into my choice to turn in an application, but who really knows. Regardless, it wasn't until the application had already been sent in that my discernment process really started. May of you know that i struggled with whether or not to do the program. I think i convinced myself both yes and no multiple times in the months to follow. It wasn't until i sat and talked with a good friend about it one day in February that i fully committed to a yes. He told me in a very excited voice, "Life's entirely to short man, go live life and see the world." as he lay in his hospital bed terminally ill. Craig, you truly gave me the strength to say yes to a call i had been running from for so long. For that I will be eternally grateful, and i will never forget our conversation and the joy still present in your face that day. God bless you, and save me a seat in the big house dude.
So along with the helpful words of a wise and caring friend, and opening my heart to the call, i now write this post from Johannesburg, South Africa. Our country program has been here for only four days now, and i've already felt a change happen in me and how I view my life. Im slightly overwhelmed by the thought of the person i will be a year from now. At the same time I am so excited. YAGM couldn't have come into my life at a better time, in a better place. I know without the slightest doubt that this place, this very place, is where I suppose to be at this moment of my life. It feels right, it feels peaceful, it feels messy, it feels emotional, and it is going to help form me into the person i have always wanted to be in this world.
So why YAGM? Cause it is where i have been called to be in the world right now. Thats it. And simply being here is enough for me right now. I'm not here to fix it, i'm not here to change it. I'm here to learn, to be immersed, and to simply be. To walk along song God's children, my brothers and sisters. Not only so i can help tell their story, but so that they call help shape and mold mine. I can't wait to meet Keenan Weatherford in September of 2014.

Peace

The Voice of Reason

Today was our first full day in Johannesburg, and we spent it at the Apartheid Museum. It was an interesting experience to say the least. The emotions provoked by words, pictures and stories of such a significant history to the country i now call home was more then slightly exhausting. One of the rules of the museum is no pictures when you get inside, which at first i was kinda bummed about. Anybody who knows me knows that my camera is almost always in my hand. Yet, by the time i got to the end nearly five hours later, i was so thankful i hadn't been allowed to hide behind my lens. It had given me the opportunity to fully be in that place and absorb the information put in front of me. Multiple times i had to stop and sit down and just write. Journal about everything going through my head at the time. Mom, please thank Robin again for the beautiful journal. It already has become a huge part of my year and this experience and i am so grateful for it.
I think the thing that struck me the most today though were the photographs. Being a photographer myself, i was able to feel like i could step inside the pictures and try to be in the space the photographer was when they took the picture. Every single picture in the museum was so incredibly intentional to the story of Apartheid, and to the individual that it captured. It sparked things inside of me that I have somewhat always felt, but through some realizations of self in Chicago and truly being immersed in the experience today, it allowed me to articulate them to myself in entirely new ways. That the feelings of something more for me in this life are actually real. That I do want to be the change I want to see in the world. To be the voice for the silenced, and to tell the world their story to the best of my ability.
I have been in country for roughly 40 hours now and already felt a change at work in me, I can't even begin to imagine who i'm going to be a year from now. For the first time in my life thinking about those changes excites me so much I can't put it into words. I'm so glad I found the strength and courage to take this leap, cause it has surely started to make all of the difference.

Peace

The Simple Beauty In Song

The journey for ten young American adults has began. We left Chicago last night around 10:30pm and landed safely this afternoon in Frankfurt, Germany around 1:30pm local time. Some of us spent the eight and a half hour layover hanging out at the airport trying to catch up on some much needed sleep, but the rest of us decided to go out and do a little bit of exploring in Frankfurt. I chose to go exploring (big surprise right?). It was really nice to get some fresh air after seven and a half hours of being scrunched in an air plane. 

The main reason i'm writing this post right now though is for a much different reason. As i write, the beauty I am watching unfold in front of me is amazing. And not only beauty, but such profound praise. A choir group from KwaZulu-Natal, SA is sitting at the gate waiting, singing absolutely beautiful songs. Some of them English, but most in Zulu, which i can't even begin to understand, but regardless it is SO beautiful. I watched as our entire YAGM group suddenly showed a peace in their faces i have yet to see on our journey together. It honestly was the exact comfort we were needing, and not even realizing it. 

12 hours and we hit South African soil........Amen.

Passover Remembered

Today's the day. It's hard to believe that after such a long process in less then 8 hours i will be getting on a plane that will take me jetting half way across the world. The past week has been intense to say the least, but so good. Never in my life have I been surrounded by so many amazing and wonderful people. From Global Mission staff, YAGM Alum, Short Term Recruiters, and my fellow 2013-2014 YAGM's. Tears, joys, fears, excitement and stories have been shared in such a profound capacity that its hard to sit back and fully grasp what has happened here in this place in the last seven days. The lack of ability to articulate the space i find myself in right now and all the things that have happened aside, one thing is for sure. And that's the love and community that has been formed. We all have come from such different walks of life to be together in this place and answer the call into this ministry. We go out not as 60 young individuals, but instead as a YAGM family. We can't know or see the impact we will have or how we ourselves will be impacted, but we know we will. For now thats enough.

YAGM South Africa 2013-2014 wanted to share one last gift with our family and friends back home before we left the states. We love you guys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrCjwvuxp2U

Peace.

Oh The Places You'll Go

Well the time has arrived, in less then 24 hours now i will board my plane to Chicago and step into the new and exciting journey. In more ways then one it feels almost surreal. Yet at the same time, i'm so ready to go.  The journey has been long and the road most certainly has been rough along the way, but i've arrived. I never would have made it without so many wonderful and amazing people helping along the way.
To my Father:
Im sure there have been multiple time through out the last 22 years that you've wanted to ring my neck, but you never gave up on me. Thank you. Looking back now and realizing the amount of undue stress I put on you and mom makes me all the more grateful for the unconditional love you both have showed me. The example you have set for me in your daily living has been beyond compare. I couldn't ask for a better man to teach me what it means to be a man. Grandpa Claud would be so proud of you and the life you share with so many people. I love you.
To my Mother:
Where do I even begin? You have been my best friend and my strong hold through all of my darkest times. Who am i kidding, i've always been a momma's boy. For all the years of putting up with me, my attitude, my stubbornness, my stupidity and encouraging me to chase my wildest dreams, thank you. I would not be at the junction I am in my life right now without you and dad. You both have set such an amazing example of what it truly means to love. To love each other, to love us kids, and to love the people around you. Im gonna miss mom's cooking so much i don't even wanna think about it. I love you.
To my Sisters:
Kelsey, you start your freshman year of college in a few short weeks, my God i'm getting old. You've grown into such an outstanding beautiful young woman that i'm so incredibly blessed to call my sister. This world has big plans for you and you have/will touch many lives. Be smart and don't be afraid to ask for help in the next year as you step more into the adult world. It can be a scary place. Oh and that Kyle kid, be nice to him. He is an amazing young man, and he treats you better then i have most of the time. Use patience with each other and know that at the end of the day you both love each other to death and you guys will go far. I love you.
Kailey, you're headed into your freshman year of high school this year.......wow. What happened to little tiny bugaboo? You're turning into such a beautiful young women, yes, and i kinda hate it, but thats a whole different story. Be wise in your decision making as you step into a bigger world and into more personal freedoms. You're a smart kid, don't be dumb. And remember, if you're thinking it i guarantee i've tried it. Be the change you want to see in this world. Have fun cheering this year, i have no doubt that you will do amazing. So proud of you sis, love you.
Kendra, oh the fuzz monkey. You too are stepping into a new journey this year as you start attending the middle school. You have such an amazing capacity for love it blows my mind sometimes. Don't loose that as you start into this new journey that is adolescence. Kids can be mean, don't let them get ya down and don't ever stop sticking up for the little guys. Keep being the amazing young lady you are and you will go far in this world. Love you.
Kinley, well buddy you're much to small to even comprehend any of this but i'm going to write it anyway. You brother, have been such a blessing in disguise to this family. You have brought us all so much closer again. You're growing up so fast, and i'm sad i'm going to miss the next year of all the fun firsts you'll have but i'm sure ill still get to share them in one way or another. Keep swinging that bat and throwing the ball, and don't let the sisters give ya too much crap while i'm gone. Love ya buddy.

And to everyone else who has played such a big part in my life the last 22 years thank you. I know without a doubt i wouldn't be where i am, if here at all, if it wasn't for all of you and the love you have showed me.
My journey has begun, now i'm just along for the ride. Love you guys! God bless!

Peace

This is the day that the Lord has made!

I was blessed enough to be asked to deliver this weeks sermon as my last sunday with my congregation. And what a coincidence that this week lectionary comes from the 12th Chapter of St. Luke.

³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

I felt it only appropriate to share that sermon with everyone, enjoy!

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
Well when i was asked if i would be interested in giving this weeks sermon, i honestly can't tell you what my initial reaction was. Im sure there was some sense of nervousness, slight sense of being overwhelmed, and well of coarse an accompanying feeling of incompetence, cause i mean come on, i am by no means a theologian. But I've been planning and leading worships all summer up at Christikon, i thought to myself, it can't be that different from that right? But putting all those mixed emotions aside, the more i thought about it, the more excited about it i became. And the more that feeling of excitement began to take over and completely mask all the other feelings id previously had. A chance as a 22 year old to stand up here and deliver a sermon to my congregation……wow. I know for a fact that there are plenty of other young adults my age who will love to have this opportunity. But still there was even more there then a simple feeling of excitement as well. Because the more i thought and the more excited i became, the more i became aware of how i truly, and genuinely wanted whatever it was i was going to say to you today to stick. I wanted you to be able to unpack it and take it with you when you stand up from the pew you're sitting in and walk out that door.
So as i sat and thought of how i wanted to go about trying to accomplish this after reading through todays gospel lesson, i couldn't seam to shake one story in particular from my mind. That story goes like this.

Barrington Bunny - Martin Bell

Once upon a time in a large forest there lived a very furry bunny. He had one lop ear, a tiny black nose, and unusually shiny eyes. His name was Barrington.

Barrington was not really a very handsome bunny. He was brown and speckled and his ears didn't stand up right. But he could hop, and he was, as I have said, very furry.

In a way, winter is fun for bunnies. After all, it gives them an opportunity to hop in the snow and then turn around to see where they have hopped. So, in a way, winter was fun for Barrington.

But in another way winter made Barrington sad. For, you see, winter marked the time where all of the animal families got together in their cozy homes to celebrate Christmas. He could hop, and he was very furry. But as far as Barrington knew, he was the only bunny in the forest.

When Christmas Eve finally came, Barrington did not feel like going home all by himself. So he decided he would hop for awhile in the clearing at the center of the forest.

Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. Barrington made tracks in the fresh snow.

Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. Then he cocked his head and looked back at the wonderful designs he had made.

"Bunnies," he thought to himself, "can hop. And they are very warm, too, because of how furry they are."

(But Barrington didn't really know whether or not this was true of all bunnies, since he had never met another bunny.)

When it got too dark to see the tracks he was making, Barrington made up his mind to go home.

On his way, however, he passed a large oak tree. High in the branches there was a great deal of excited chattering going on. Barrington looked up. It was a squirrel family! What a marvelous time they seemed to be having.

"Hello, up there," called Barrington.

"Hello, down there," came the reply.

"Having a Christmas party?" asked Barrington.

"Oh, yes!" answered the squirrels. "It's Christmas Eve. Everybody is having a Christmas party!"

"May I come to your party?" said Barrington softly.

"Are you a squirrel?"

"No."

"What are you, then?"

"A bunny."

"A bunny?"

"Yes."

"Well, how can you come to the party if you're a bunny? Bunnies can't climb trees."

"That's true," said Barrington thoughtfully. "But I can hop and I'm very furry and warm."

"We're sorry," called the squirrels. "We don't know anything about hopping and being furry, but we do know that in order to come to our house you have to be able to climb trees."

"Oh, well," said Barrington. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," chattered the squirrels.

And the unfortunate bunny hopped off toward his tiny house.

It was beginning to snow when Barrington reached the river. Near the river bank was a wonderfully constructed house of sticks and mud. Inside there was singing.

"It's the beavers," thought Barrington. "Maybe they will let me come to their party."

And so he knocked on the door.

"Who's out there?" called a voice.

"Barrington Bunny," he replied.

There was a long pause and then a shiny beaver head broke the water.

"Hello, Barrington," said the beaver.

"May I come to your Christmas party?" asked Barrington.

The beaver thought for awhile and then he said, "I suppose so. Do you know how to swim?"

"No," said Barrington, "but I can hop and I am very furry and warm."

"Sorry," said the beaver. "I don't know anything about hopping and being furry, but I do know that in order to come to our house you have to be able to swim."

"Oh, well," Barrington muttered, his eyes filling with tears. "I suppose that's true-Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," called the beaver. And he disappeared beneath the surface of the water.

Even as furry as he was, Barrington was starting to get cold. And the snow was falling so hard that his tiny, bunny eyes could scarcely see what was ahead of him.

He was almost home, however, when he heard the excited squeaking of field mice beneath the ground.

"It's a party," thought Barrington. And suddenly he blurted out through his tears, "Hello, field mice. This is Barrington Bunny. May I come to your party?"

But the wind was howling so loudly and Barrington was sobbing so much that no one heard him.

And when there was no response at all, Barrington just sat down in the snow and began to cry with all his might.

"Bunnies," he thought, aren't any good to anyone. What good is it to be furry and to be able to hop if you don't have any family on Christmas Eve?"

Barrington cried and cried. When he stopped crying he began to bite on his bunny's foot, but he did not move from where he was sitting in the snow.

Suddenly, Barrington was aware he was not alone. He looked up and strained his shiny eyes to see who was there.

To his surprise he saw a great silver wolf. The wolf was large and strong and his eyes flashed fire. He was the most beautiful animal Barrington had ever seen.

For a long time the silver wolf didn't say anything at all. He just stood there and looked at Barrington with those terrible eyes.

Then slowly and deliberately the wolf spoke. "Barrington," he asked in a gentle voice, "why are you sitting in the snow?"

"Because it's Christmas Eve," said Barrington, "and I don't have any family, and bunnies aren't any good to anyone."

"Bunnies are, too, good," said the wolf. "Bunnies can hop and they are very warm."

"What good is that?" Barrington sniffed.

"It is very good indeed," the wolf went on, "because it is a gift that bunnies are given, a free gift with no strings attached. And every gift that is given to anyone is given for a reason. Someday you will see why it is good to hop and to be warm and furry."

"But it's Christmas," moaned Barrington, "and I'm all alone. I don't have any family at all."

"Of course you do," replied the great silver wolf. "All of the animals in the forest are your family."

And then the wolf disappeared. He simply wasn't there. Barrington had only blinked his eyes, and when he looked-the wolf was gone.

"All of the animals in the forest are my family," thought Barrington. "It's good to be a bunny. Bunnies can hop. That's a gift." And then he said it again. "A gift. A free gift."

On in the night Barrington worked. First he found the best stick he could. (And that was difficult because of the snow.)

Then hop. Hop. Hippity-hop. To beaver's house. He left the stick just outside the door. With a note on it that read: "Here is a good stick for your house. It is a gift. A free gift. No strings attached. Signed, a member of your family."

"It is a good thing that I can hop, he thought, "because the snow is very deep."

Then Barrington dug and dug. Soon he had gathered together enough dead leaves and grass to make the squirrels' nest warmer. Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop.

He laid the grass and leaves just under the large oak tree and attached this message: "A gift. A free gift. From a member of your family."

It was late when Barrington finally started home. And what made things worse was that he knew a blizzard was beginning.

Hop. Hop. Hippity-hop.

Soon poor Barrington was lost. The wind howled furiously, and it was very, very cold. "It certainly is cold," he said out loud. "It's a good thing I'm so furry. But if I don't find my way home pretty soon I might freeze!"

Squeak. Squeak. . . .

And then he saw it-a baby field mouse lost in the snow. And the little mouse was crying.

"Hello, little mouse," Barrington called.

"Don't cry. I'll be right there." Hippity-hop, and Barrington was beside the tiny mouse.

"I'm lost," sobbed the little fellow. "I'll never find my way home, and I know I'm going to freeze."

"You won't freeze," said Barrington. "I'm a bunny and bunnies are very furry and warm. You stay right where you are and I'll cover you up."

Barrington lay on top of the little mouse and hugged him tight. The tiny fellow felt himself surrounded by warm fur. He cried for awhile but soon, snug and warm, he fell asleep.

Barrington had only two thoughts that long, cold night. First he thought, "It's good to be a bunny. Bunnies are very furry and warm." And then, when he felt the heart of the tiny mouse beating regularly, he thought, "All the animals in the forest are my family.

Next morning, the field mice found their little boy, asleep in the snow, warm and snug beneath the furry carcass of a dead bunny. Their relief and excitement was so great that they didn't even think to question where the bunny had come from.

And as for the beavers and the squirrels, they still wonder which member of their family left the little gift for them that Christmas Eve.

After the field mice had left, Barrington's frozen body simply lay in the snow. There was no sound except that of the howling wind. And no one anywhere in the forest noticed the great silver wolf who came to stand beside that brown, lop-eared carcass.

But the wolf did come.

And he stood there.

Without moving or saying a word.

All Christmas Day.

Until it was night.

And then he disappeared into the forest.

Everytime i hear this story i can't help but feel a profound sense of similarity to how we walk through our everyday lives. I think in more ways then one through out Martin Bells story we can see ourselves and our own lives in Barrington.
"Barrington was not a very handsome bunny"
"But as far as he knew, Barrington was the only bunny in the forrest."
Well if you're living in the same society i am, filled with social media, celebrity beauties,  and designer clothes labels telling us that they don't want ugly people wearing their line, then I'm sure you can relate to how Barrington saw himself. We all have times when we enter into that dark place in our lives. A place that feels like everyone around us has abandoned us. A place that there feels to be no hope and no sign of light anywhere. All little Barrington wanted was to be included in someones Christmas celebrations, and after multiple attempts for acceptance and repeated failures, it becomes easier to simply just sit idle in the snow.
Sitting idle in a slump…….sound familiar??
But then something happens that Barrington never expected. The grey wolf appears and completely changes how Barrington has been perceiving the world around him.
"Bunnies are, too, good," said the wolf. "Bunnies can hop and they are very warm."
"It is very good indeed," the wolf went on, "because it is a gift that bunnies are given, a free gift with no strings attached. And every gift that is given to anyone is given for a reason. Someday you will see why it is good to hop and to be warm and furry."
Well for me that day is today. Its taken me a long journey and a rough road, by i think I've finally started to understand and embrace my "warm and furry" gift. A free gift.
Every last one of us sitting here has been blessed with their own "warm and furry" gift. Absolutely no strings attached. The trick for many of us, like Barrington, is realizing what those gifts are. And not only realizing them, but embracing them.
Todays gospel lesson tells us " Do not be afraid, little flock". Now idk about you, but that can be a lot easier said then done most of the time. You have work, kids, bills, the list goes on and on.  And to top it all off we live in a completely fear driven society. If you don't have the best job, with the best benefits, or drive the best car, and live in the best house, you have failed in the eyes of society.
But i promise you this, when you put all those things and fears aside, and listen. Simply and truly listen, the response you receive is overwhelming. And all of a sudden things that use to seam terrifying become a lot easier to face. Its ok to not be on top all the time, its ok to have less, its ok to step outside the social norms and live for something bigger.
Its this crazy mystery at the heart of the universe, its the call to be loved by a heavenly father that has such an unconditional love for us that we can't even begin to grasp it. We get to choose whether or not we answer that call. Through our love, through our gratitude, through our sharing, through our faith, and through our day to day living.
My response to this call has lead me to a small South African village half way around the world to teach small children at this junction of my life. Where it may lead me tomorrow i have absolutely no clue, but thats ok with me. Im not afraid. Because i know that i have been gifted by our heavenly father who loves me completely unconditionally and that as long as I'm listening to and using those gifts, non of the rest matters. That is what is the wonder is that is at the heart of the universe, that is what christian living is about.

But the wolf did come.

And he stood there.

Without moving or saying a word.

All Christmas Day.

Until it was night.

And then he disappeared into the forest.

Amen

Hold On to What You Believe....

Earlier this spring, i officially resigned from my job. And not just any job either. We're talking about a job that was the beginning of a career path to be set up very comfortably for the rest of my life. Honestly its probably one of the best feelings and biggest senses of relief i've ever felt though. After returning from 3 weeks in the UK and the DIP event in Chicago this April, i sat down and looked at the calendar and came to the realization that there was absolutely no way i was going to be able to get everything done i needed to get done in the next 4 weeks and manage working seven ten hour shifts a week. Just isn't possible. So i did the completely logical thing, quit my job, haha right? Even though some have kind of shrugged their shoulders in disbelief, its been the right decision.During my time in the UK i had many observations, obviously, but one in particular stuck out. We work entirely too hard in America. Now before anybody gets upset, defensive, or any other form of angry towards me, please just listen.The average american works anywhere from 48-60 hours in a given week. Thats a pretty fair statement correct? Well i can't help but begin to question this so called "american dream" if that's what this particular dream is going to consist of. Do better, be better, out perform and climb the ladder by any means possible. This whole concept just doesn't sit well with me and my conscience. Somewhere along the line i feel like we've missed the bigger picture at the heart of the universe.As my time here at camp is coming to an end, i've taken time for meditation, prayer, and mostly just trying to grasp the idea that in two short weeks i will get on a plane and won't be home again for at least a years time. These are some things that have come into those thoughts and prayers as my time in the Boulder Valley comes to an end, and i feel the need to share at least a glimpse of those with you.

Community……..Relationship……….Life Together. What does it all mean?? Of coarse one can take the logical route and simply define these words in a technical manner, but there is so much more insight and depth to these concepts then simply a defining word.God created humans with these concepts in mind. All three of these concepts being encompassed in the ever elusive practice of love. We were created perfect in his image with an overwhelming capacity for love, to love, and to be loved. But as time has passed, we as human being have pushed hard at this practice. We've stepped away from its warm embrace, we've shunned the emotions it perks up inside of us, and most of all we've selfishly chosen to ignore it. In a lot of ways i feel the institutional christian faith has fallen to a lot of these traps. We stand in the pulpit on Sunday mornings and preach about an inclusive community, yet we fight and divide our church over topics of sexuality still. We hold hands during the service and pray for the orphaned African children who's families have been ravished by HIV/AIDS, but thats were our "love" for them stops in most instances. Now by no means am i saying that I'm immune from these practices, cause honestly i consider myself one of the most guilty. Im quick to judge, short in my approach to others insight on the matters and quick to simply say forget it, this isn't worth the effort. Well my friends, i have greatly wronged you.It's time to put these amazing concepts and practices to work. To act on this amazingly overwhelming gift of love. We don't have to fully understand it, cause we never truly will, but that doesn't mean we can ignore it either. I feel like a lot of the time the concept of love is confined to being viewed as nothing more then a feeling. I have a hard time ending my understanding of the word there. In many ways, love is more of an action to me. Love is the groceries you bought for some family friends because the father lost his job, love is providing a pair of shoes to a homeless man who's barefoot, love is looking to the care of those around you far before looking to ones self. Love is completely letting go of this life we've been gifted and living 100% fully as we are called into its existence. Easy enough right?? NOT.We've been raised to look towards ourselves in the "american dream" and our own well being long before we step back and look to the care of others. We've grown up in an increasingly competitive society that preaches the "one up" policy in daily living. And a world that chooses to end its service to others at the end of their blocks or cul de sacs. For many of those probably reading this, Palmer Chinchen would refer to this point in your life as the Critical Years. Chichen says, " These years are precious. Much of who we are spiritually is shaped in these years. A stimulating environment and new opportunities will promote spiritual growth and transformation. Conversely, a stagnant environment and negative conditions will slow or even block spiritual development." Some of you may find yourself in your critical years right now, or just starting into them. Don't waste a day. There is a unique value among those that live in these years. They need to be listened to, included, promoted, treasured, encouraged, and learned from because it's these people that are filled with potential. Even if you yourself isn't a twentysomething, you can live that way. You don't have to be so cautious, you don't have to only do what you've done before, and you don't have to plan so far ahead. Start living with the spontaneity of a twenty-year-old.


Its with these in mind that i move into the next chapter that is this wild and precious life. Whether they're right or wrong, i honestly couldn't tell ya. But i refuse to sit back and wait to see if they're right or wrong. I'm gonna go find out for myself. 

Your turn.