service learning hour 3

Intentions mean well.

Authenticity as it turns out can be timely, and never on ‘our’ time as it turns out. 

This is going to be fun for you because I wrote about this person in one of my essays ;)

It started with me wanting it to be “bread truck” Thursday.  That is I just got back from a very enriching, enlightening, but exhausting week in Denver, CO, drove the better part of the whole day Wednesday to get back to Bozeman only to have to prep a lesson for the weekly meeting because the group didn’t feel confident with not having me there to facilitate.  Bread truck Thursday means that there was slight possibility that I was going to be a jet lagged, semi grouch mofo and that I didn’t particularly give a rats you-know-what about what messes and dramas were going on in other people’s lives.  I simply wanted to check out because at this particular moment, being a bread truck driver was much easier and simpler.

I had nothing but freshmen, one of which was overly enthusiastic that he had just joined a bible/ life group without having to do anything but sit there and be a part of the conversation.

As the hour went on, we discussed the story of the Good Samaritan and what it looks like to be a “good neighbor” and so on and so fourth.  However at the beginning one of the three newbies [two girls, one guy] asked for a stick of gum.  As my pack of gum was passed around, it passed over this other girl- not the one who asked but you know, the “other girl”.  Keeping in mind and being well aware of the last week’s reflection I had regarding this person, I tried out my self aware opportunity to reach out to her.

I gently and quietly asked if she’d like a stick of gum and held out my flat palmed hand to see if she wanted some.  She gently scraped the pack of gum out of my hand.  Notice here I was being very inviting in gauging how she’d interact with me as it was the first time I actively engaged her.  She intentionally made physical contact which I suspected and I took that as a good thing as trust and comfort was being built without the dogged implications and ulterior intentions that could be had in an interaction like this.

As the meeting drew near I asked if anybody needed prayer.  All the kids opened up like a flood gate.  The asked for prayer for family and loved ones, asked for prayer for strength to continue on with the rigorous and hectic college life.  Not really participating in the hour long discussion at all, the victory came at the end.  They really opened up and jotted us down in their weekly planner because the simple prayer made that much of a difference for them and that this is why they came to hang out, to feel like being in a community.

As this person asked for prayer, she asked “how do you cope?”  meaning how do I cope with having to be an adult, being away from home, and having to take responsibility for myself.  I smiled and replied “as long as you’re here on this campus, you’re always trying to cope.”  She smiled, said thank you, and felt more at peace as I did pray for her coping skills.

Being bold happens a lot quicker than I think and I thank God that it was in a safe environment.   This is what service means too.   I’m glad I didn’t decide to be a bread truck driver that evening.