An independent, college preparatory, co-ed, Episcopal Day School serves a community of students in grades 6-12.
Issue link: http://palmertrinityschool.uberflip.com/i/154161
Everyone loves a story! Everyone has a story! Everyone is in a story! We often don't reflect or re-contextualize or reconnect the sequential parts of our lives until in the second half of life. There is however a wisdom to be had in starting earlier. Therefore when our story takes a "strange turn of events" perhaps the shock, surprise, or stress may not catch us completely off guard. In the film, Forrest Gump, he reflects and reconnects his life on that bus bench. Forrest's well-lived story reminds us too that even when our lives seem to be like a feather floating aimlessly, fatefully or perhaps both, we do realize a profound truth. We sense in some deeper, valuable place inside that it is in "giving ourselves away" that we become a more complete human being. Community service is one such place to take on this noble act. Giving Ourselves Away By Chaplain Jay Lentz Cecilia Leal, Briana Henry, and Cristina Hernandez mix concrete for use in building a home. Martha Renteria, Anna Uzquiano, Livia Wogan, Emily Tarbe, Angela Vallecilla, Katie Difede, and Brooke Sonenreich at Race for the Cure. Listening to students and faculty speak during convocation following their trip to build homes in Nicaragua tells of such a noble story. Walking with crowds of people who support a cause such as Race for the Cure tells such a noble story. And hearing seniors talk about their day at Habit for Humanity re-contextualizes a story of caring by giving their time and energy. These and numerous other examples tell of the great story when "giving ourselves away" to community service. But there is more… as Forrest Gump, Betty reminded me of Forrest at his best while Gracie was Lt. Dan at his worst. Who might we become as we grow older in age? Community service is a two way street. Once upon a time, I worked in a residential nursing home for persons who all had virtually lost their "sense of reality". It is easy to grow hardened and afraid in such a place due to the nature of these 250 unique persons. There was Betty who greeted us each day at 6:00 am outside the elevator with a smile and a proposal, "will you marry me"! On the other hand, Gracie, bless her heart, was full of disenchantment while guarding her wheel chair turf and grumbling for her father to take her home. Like a nursing home parable or film such 20 There are always more lessons to learn in life. The people we serve can each teach us much more than we might learn in a classroom. And thus for adults and students as well, such service can become invaluable. At PTS, we are given an extraordinary opportunity as students and faculty alike to serve in varied community service projects. Some of us have been taught to care give through family expectations or religious training. Some of us have it in our DNA, being hard wired for such service. Some of us are simply not ready yet to take on this challenge in a mutually beneficial way. And yet I suspect that when community service draws us like a great book, a powerful movie, an engaging play, or with the enthusiasm of a sports event, then many more of us may discover the deeper rewards found "in giving ourselves away" to such moments of grace. Who knows what impact such a moment may have on our life story? And who knows what might be missed in saying No to an opportunity to "give ourselves away" for a few hours.