Question Everything, Accomplish Anything: My Trip Home

So, for all of my Transy friends, you’ll notice that I stole our wonderful slogan, “Question Everything, Accomplish Anything.” For everyone else, the title is an indication for what I’m going to try to portray in this blog. It was immediately obvious that my peace intern summer was going to lead to a lot of questions. It is a summer of asking questions and being asked questions, and I learned really quickly that very rarely do I know the answer to anything. However, sticking to my liberal arts core (insert shameless Transy is awesome note here), I am quite okay with all this questioning happening around me. It is a sign of my growth, but more importantly it is a sign that the campers I encounter are growing as well. Questions are important because a journey isn’t a journey if you know where you are ending up. A question is a beginning for a walk down a path that may only lead to more questions, but don’t fret, there is a purpose in all of this. If we are asking questions, it means we are engaged, and wanting to understand the world. On that note, if we want to find peace and justice in the world, our journey is going to have start with a question or questions. Often times, the questions start with “why”, “how”, or “what”. However, going home to camp at WaKon’Da’Ho, a new question was asked that I want you to think about. “Is world peace even possible?”

Let me first say, I was nervous about going home during my peace intern summer. I had become comfortable being uncomfortable, and I knew going home would shake all this up. I was also worried that having grown up at WKDH would impede on my abilities to establish myself in a new role. My worries should have never been worries and as always, I had an unbelievable week with some of my closest and truest friends in which I continued my spiritual journey and my work as a peace intern continued to challenge my thoughts on the world. WKDH has always had the ability to challenge me and this week, even in a new role, was no different.

The question “is world peace even possible?” came up in one of my meetings with a small group doing my workshop. I asked the campers to write what ever they wanted to on a piece of paper, a question, topic of discussion, or draw a picture. It didn’t even have to be peace and justice related because by this point in the summer, I knew I could turn anything into a peace and justice conversation. This time around, one of  the papers had a picture of the world with people standing around it holding hands. I held up the image and asked the campers what it represented to them, and the answers flowed – “world peace,” “unity,” and ‘”love.” Then, the question, “is world peace even possible?”

I wasn’t expecting the question, but I was instantly excited to see where this conversation was going to go. Instead of me answering, I posed the question to the group, and all of them said NO. I sat for a second a bit perplexed, gathered my thoughts, laughed, and jumped in. The initial question opened up many others and attempts to understand what world peace even means. In the idealistic way that we define it today, I agreed with the campers, no world peace is not possible, but as I made it clear to the campers, I wouldn’t be doing this work this summer if I didn’t think peace was possible, we just might need to redefine it a little, or ask more questions about what peace looks like.

Is it the absence of conflict in the world? Or, is it more about a world in which we recognize the fact that we live in community together in which we naturally disagree, but understand that we still have a responsibility to one another? Does this mean that our conscious effort is central to peace? These questions naturally lead to more questions. Doesn’t world peace look differently for different people? For example, an American view for world peace may be entirely different than a Palestinian living in the West Bank or Gaza. Or, what about those in the world who are starving, suffering from disease, discrimination, or fear of being shot every time they walk out the door? Wouldn’t world peace look different for them than for me where I have never felt the sensation of being truly hungry?

This question started a journey for us that day and it was amazing. Now, I want you to join us. These questions may not have answers right now, but they are a starting point and we have to start somewhere. A question ignites a spark and a spark leads to fire, which in this case would mean action. Peace will never be achieved if we don’t talk about what peace means because we can’t accomplish what we don’t understand. Transy is right; to accomplish something, it often times has to start with a question. At camps all summer the questions are being asked and the journey’s are beginning. We can’t have hope without endeavor and I have hope because these kids, beginning by questioning everything are truly going to accomplish anything.

Peace,

Daniel

Hot Springs, Hot Topics

Last week I travelled to the Great River Region’s CYF Conference in Hot Springs, AR, for my first trip to Razorback country.  I was struck by the beauty of the campground–its rustic cabins, pine forests and the Ouachita River that bordered the site.  Only the love and kindness of the campers, counselors and keynoters surpassed the beauty of the grounds.

Our theme for the week was prayer.  With the help of our keynoters we learned about how prayer offers us an opportunity for reflection and for spiritual discernment, as a way to draw closer to God, and as a means of strengthening and encouraging those around us.  It was a hopeful message, one that resonated deeply with me, as I have too often limited prayer to being an opportunity for confession or to present God with a wish list.  Prayer, I now realize, is first and foremost a blessing rather than just another religious obligation.

The week’s theme coincided well with the peace and justice discussions I was able to have with the campers.  We talked about putting our faith into action—what it means to resist the temptation to be armchair Christians and to faithfully witness to peace and justice in our communities.  We realized that prayer is essential to a life committed to justice–that reflection and discernment is imperative to faithful action.

Our reflections on prayer also led us to reflect on the church’s historical role as a witness for peace and justice.  We focused especially on the actions of faith leaders and laypeople during the Civil Rights Movement, discussing luminaries like Fred Shuttlesworth, Diane Nash, and Bayard Rustin.  We also grappled with Martin Luther King’s stinging indictment of people of faith who preferred turning a blind eye to injustice to being labeled “nonconformists” and speaking against it.

So often the contemporary church is a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. So often it is an archdefender of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church’s silent–and often even vocal–sanction of things as they are.

But the judgment of God is upon the church as never before. If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century. Every day I meet young people whose disappointment with the church has turned into outright disgust.

I was impressed by the campers’ willingness to engage in these discussions, to question the role of the church in society and to commit to more faithfully working for justice in their communities.  I was especially encouraged by the open-mindedness of a woman who realized for the first time that the Little Rock Nine were people worth celebrating.  She could remember with pride their simple yet courageous decision to go to school in the face of widespread opposition to desegregation.  Rather than being mired in remorse by the shameful racial relations of her state’s past, she could lift up these nine students as heroes of the Civil Rights Movement and of Arkansas’ state history.  To her, these students became exemplars of courage and perseverance and inspirations for future movements for social justice.

Reflecting on our church’s past and present roles this summer has been challenging.  Though not always an easy process, it has offered new perspectives on living a life of faith and has given me opportunities to grow and mature as a disciple of Christ.  I hope the campers I meet this summer can continue to share this opportunity for reflection and growth.

Jonathan Cahill is a 2014 Disciples Peace Fellowship Intern, sponsored by Federated Church of West Lafayette.

The Most Blessed Woman in the World

So many wonderful things happened this week; I easily had enough content to write a new blog each and every day of the week, but, of course, I didn’t have the time… I was too busy enjoying myself!

This week I had the pleasure of representing Disciples Peace Fellowship, Disciples Women, and Disciples Center for Public Witness at Quadrennial Assembly in Atlanta, Georgia. For those of you who don’t know, Quadrennial is a convention that occurs every four years (hence QUAD-rennial) for Disciples Women. Of course, there were a few men and children, as well as ecumenical sisters from other denominations, but the majority of women came from across the country to represent their Disciples churches and families.

To begin with, I’d like to show a few pictures, because a picture is worth a thousand words, so three pictures means I don’t have to write a long blog, right?

The view from my 21st floor hotel room window

A peace poem from the MLK Jr. National Historic Site

Mary Frances Early, the first African American woman to graduate from University of Georgia, Atlanta and Joan Browning, a Freedom Rider, at the Celebration of the Civil Rights Movement.

After traipsing through Atlanta for an entire week, facilitating tours to the MLK Jr. National Historic Sites, and participating in a Civil Rights Movement Celebration service I want to share only one story; a story of a woman I met at my last supper at Quadrennial.

Women who had purchased the Quadrennial meal plan would meet at meal time on a separate floor of the hotel to eat together. Each meal I sat with a different group of women from many different states and of many different ages. The diversity of strong women around me was inspiring.

At the last supper of the event, I was seated next to a woman named Sharon. About halfway through the meal Sharon and I got to talking about where she was from and what her life had been like. She explained that this was her 10th Quadrennial. 10th! With some quick math my thought process continued: “Quadrennial only occurs every 4 years… 10×4 is 40, she’s been attending for 40 years!” Imagine the women she’s met and the stories she’s heard and the changes she’s seen, like the fact that all of the Quadrennial registrations occurred online and most updates were sent out via e-mail. I wondered internally if the planners had to be more organized back when Quadrennial started because they didn’t have cell phones to call people when they weren’t on time to a worship rehearsal or whether they just ran all over town looking for people? and what kind of topics did they discuss? How did they travel? My mind reeled thinking about the differences between then and now.

Over the years Sharon had traveled from seven different states to Quadrennial and this time had flown all the way from Oregon to Atlanta on what was probably one of the farthest commutes of any woman within the U.S. She nonchalantly told me her story of growing up in rural Iowa and not having a bathroom in her house until she was in 12th grade, which showed me, yet again, a resounding change she had seen happen in her lifetime. She explained the love she felt from and for her siblings and how her and her husband had moved often throughout the west with their children.

She attended her first Quadrennial in Indiana as a physically younger woman. At this point in our conversation the song lyrics “I was older then, I’m so much younger now” from one of Bob Dylan’s songs popped into my head as her young spirit shimmered and gleamed. At that assembly she was randomly assigned to room with other young women from Puerto Rico who asked her questions she had never considered, like “how far do you have to walk to get your water” and “how far do you have to walk to get to church and to work?” Reminiscently she said “those women changed my life.” Even today, every time Sharon turns on a water faucet she is reminded of the things she takes for granted and how much those young Puerto Rican women challenged her ideas of the world.

After discussing her loving family and all the places she’d been, Sharon drew our conversation to a close saying with genuine honesty and heartfelt conviction “I must be the most blessed woman in the world.”

Just think about that statement for a moment–how powerful it is. “I must be the most blessed woman in the world.” The way she said those words and the way I could tell that she meant them with her whole heart bring forward waves of emotions in me, emotions I can’t describe with just a few measly words in this hastily thrown together blog that I write between activities at yet another camp.

Every day when I think about my life I don’t think about how blessed I am, I don’t think about the opportunities I’ve been given, like traveling around the country, seeing places I’ve never been before and being treated with such courageous compassion at every stop. And yes, everyday we’re told to “remember our blessings” and be thankful for what we have, but how can I ever truly think about it with a large enough scope? Will it take nine more Quadrennial Assemblies for me to internalize what Sharon discovered at her very first Quadrennial? I sure hope not.

As Sharon still remembers the women who opened her eyes and made an impact on her life at her very first Quadrennial I will always remember my very first Quadrennial when Sharon from Oregon left a mark on my soul in a mere 20 minutes over lasagna and iced tea, and will continue to remind me what it means to be the most blessed woman in the world.

Sincerely,

The Most Blessed Woman in the World

Cara McKinney is a 2014 Disciples Peace Fellowship Intern, sponsored by Disciples Center for Public Witness and Disciples Women.

"Who do you say that I am..."

So, somehow I am supposed to be able to write these reflections in the midst of the most incomprehensible and amazing summer of my life. This summer has been one of new experiences, new ideas, first times, and new friends. I gave my first morning watches in North Carolina, as well as gave my first attempt at the Cross Fit workouts (thanks Cory), and I watched some of the funniest YouTube videos I’ve even seen in Oklahoma. I even attempted my first labyrinth as a worship station last week at Central Christian Camp in Oklahoma. Let me just say, those are a lot easier in theory. It took me two hours in the sun, I was late for dinner, and after inhaling way too much spray paint, I stood drenched in my sweat to realize I hadn’t done it completely right (which actually worked out for the best). On top of that, I have welcomed in and been welcomed in by some the most wonderful people in the world and have had experiences that have completely changed who I am…and I’m not even halfway through the summer…

In North Carolina the week’s theme was “Facing your Demons,” which was a focus on all of our live’s burdens and how we confront those to live more fully with God. In Oklahoma it was “Get Real” and looking at who Jesus was and still is, while attempting to understand what Jesus means in our lives. The question raised last week in Oklahoma on the first day was “Who do you say I am,” which Jesus asked his disciples in Matthew 16:13. This was the question that set the tone of the week and led into looking at who is Jesus and the various names for him – Jesus as Friend, Jesus as Teacher, Jesus as Healer, Jesus as Savior. In reflecting on this, it seems that the better question to ask yourself is, “Who does Jesus say I am?”

This question stands out to me and I think rephrasing it may help us better understand our responsibility to the world. We have the tendency to get caught up in all the amazing things Jesus did for us, but what are we doing in return? How are we living in the example he set for us? It is really easy to understand that Jesus was a friend, a healer, and our savior. Now my question to myself and to you is: How are we being friends, teachers, and healers? How are we living in the example of Jesus and being the body of Christ? We still live in this world and one that is very, very messy. As Christians we are called to be the body of Christ so why, then, are we avoiding the messes of the world?

The thing is, this concept, like the labyrinth is very simple in theory, but there is always something burdening us, holding us back, or standing in our way. So what I have concluded is that in order for us to live out the example of Jesus, we might want to recognize the issues that keep us from doing that. For many of us, we have our personal barriers. At the same time, if we are going to make a difference in the world, we may want unmask our society’s problems instead of trying to hide them because its easy. Just remember, as the campers in North Carolina pointed out, you are all worthy of love and belonging and it is okay to allow yourself to be vulnerable with God, or with the world – no matter how difficult that is to do. Jesus didn’t choose easy; rather, he jumped head first into the mess and now, as the body of Christ, it is our turn to jump.

There is no doubt in my mind that the hope for our future is bright. I’ve seen it everyday the last three weeks in all the people I have encountered and it is often times in the smallest of gestures. Like when a camper reaches out to someone completely different than themselves, to an outsider, and pulls them into the dance circle to make them feel welcomed and loved. Then there was the time when a camper questioned the camp for not recycling. Or, I saw it even more clearly last week when the camp in Oklahoma packaged 57,000 meals for Kids Against Hunger, and many of the campers gave up two days of their swim time to do it. Of course, it is easy to do this at camp, but I fully believe these kids are ready to take the peace and acceptance they find at camp to everyone they meet. They understand that they have a responsibility to do more than celebrate our salvation, but to be arms and legs of Jesus – to be the teachers, the friends, and the healers. They also know that it is going to be hard and that there are always obstacles.

Now, the challenge is on us, so ask yourself, who does Jesus I am?

-Daniel

Texas Two Step

My first two weeks as a peace intern have brought me to the Lone Star State—to the cacti and cattle ranches of Gonzales and to the lakes and wooded trails of Athens.

While driving through Gonzales to get to camp I was struck by the town’s flag. Its emblem is a black cannon and its motto is “Come and take it.” Besides reminding me that one shouldn’t mess with Texas, the flag also got me thinking what I will take away from my summer as an intern. What will be the lessons I learn from the campers and counselors who share the summer with me? Will I grow stronger in faith?

Will I faithfully witness to the peace and love that Jesus embodied in his life? Will I be able to make a difference as an itinerant intern, discussing peace and social justice in the hope that in doing so the world will be a more just, more peaceful place? I admit that I have doubts for this journey—great ambitions don’t often lead to great results. But I have hope that God is moving in my heart and in those of campers across the country, transforming us into agents of peace and love who can, even in the smallest of ways, make this world a better place.

Already I draw encouragement from my experiences in Texas. As an outsider (and a Yankee at that) I have been welcomed with love and grace into the camps’ communities—surely an example of Jesus’ unconditional hospitality. I have heard powerful keynotes on loving and accepting ourselves and each other, remembering that God created us, with all our imperfections, lovingly and with a good purpose. I was reminded of the universality of God’s love, knowing that we are not loved because we have value, but have value because we are loved. I was inspired to continue seeking God, to open my heart and my senses to experience God, and to act with God to manifest Jesus’ love and welcome to all.

I am encouraged by the honest and open conversations I have had with campers and counselors as we explore what it means to live meaningful lives of faith. The Spirit moves in mysterious ways at church camp, opening us to be honest with others, allowing us to recognize our vulnerabilities, and helping us to celebrate God’s creation in all its beauty.

I expect I will continue to be encouraged and surprised in the weeks ahead. Dancing, singing, praying, and worshipping with those in Gonzales and Athens has energized and inspired me for the road ahead. I am blessed to be a peace intern this summer, and I am excited as I ponder all that I will take and leave behind on my journey.

Jonathan Cahill is a 2014 Disciples Peace Fellowship Intern, sponsored by Federated Church of West Lafayette.

“Surely God is in this Place – Holy Ground”

So, here is my first attempt at a blog for the summer. I am not quite sure how exactly these things are supposed to work, therefore I would love some feedback from you, my readers (or reader more likely)…

The first week of my summer led me to Camp Kum-Ba-Ya down in western Kentucky. Being from Kentucky, I have always been familiar with KBY and even spent a week there as a camper in 8th grade for Eighter’s Camp, but it had been a long time and I was not sure what to expect. This was really my first time truly experiencing a camp not called Wakondaho. On top of that, I had all the anxieties and pressures that I had put on myself that accompanied my newly acquired title of Peace Intern. All the natural questions filled my ahead: “Would I fit in at this camp?
Would anyone get anything out of my message” What in the world am I doing with my summer?” There is no doubt I was nervous, anxious, but certainly eager and excited to be starting my summer.

The always incredible Randy Kuss keynoted and taught the camp a song that had simple words, but truer words have never been spoken. The words were “Surely God is in this place…holy ground.” That simple. And I must say God was truly in that place and in all parts of it. I saw God almost the second I got there and from the second I left. I could feel God in everyone on staff, in the car rides with Jeff Bruce, my small group with Jeff (the other one) and Kelsey, in hashtag jokes with Billy, and in the way Catherine so easily welcomed me in. I saw God in the many cups of coffee, all the energizers, and in all the keynotes. One night at vespers it started raining, but everyone managed to stay dry due to the cover of the trees, and in a moment like that, how could I not laugh and think God has a great sense of humor? I especially saw God in the campers, in their willingness to interact with each other, in their openness to new experiences, and especially in their unconditional love for their camp and each other. It was amazing.

So as Randy posed the question: “If you could inject one good thing into the world with your life – what would it be?” I knew God was in that question because at the height of my self doubt that question took the wind out of me. It was that question that stood out so much because it doesn’t call for a lot, but it asks us to think about one thing that we can do differently to make the world a better place – just one thing. As a peace intern, it is easy to bite off more than you can chew and try too hard to do so much when really it is as simple as changing one thing. It is the smallest of changes that can have the biggest of impacts on the world and that is an important reminder for me as a carry on with my adventures this summer. However, it is also I question that I want others to think about. In a world filled with violence, injustice, and genuine chaos, what can you change? What can you do differently to make the world a better place? In a world where everyone goes with the flow, I challenge you to be someone that can be just a little different and watch what happens because I have a feeling the ripple effect will surprise us.

Remember, God is in this place, all of it, not just at camp though the connection tends to be a little clearer. But, if you take just a second and listen, you might actually notice God trying to say something to you, or maybe making a little joke.

-Daniel

Radical Hospitality in Alabama

As a native Ohioan who is used to tumultuous storm clouds and trudging through snow, I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to Alabama Northwest Florida’s Beach Camp in Orange Beach, Alabama… Just kidding! Even though my fair skin wasn’t used to such direct sunlight, I couldn’t have asked for a better first week of the summer.

Apart from my obvious enjoyment at spending an entire week literally 50ft from the beach I had the pleasure of being met with open arms and open minds. Upon arriving in sunny, 90 degree, Mobile, Alabama, I was greeted by a wonderful man who showed me what I suspect is true southern hospitality, and what radical hospitality it was!

I was whisked away from the airport, treated to a wonderful lunch on the beach, and brought successfully to Romar Beach Baptist Retreat Center. After taking a much needed nap, I was greeted by a woman with an entire basket of goodies for me—brand new bedding (including a delightfully soft pillow!), a plethora of fresh towels (beach towels, shower towels, hand towels, oh my!), and a conglomeration of deliciously unhealthy snack foods that I promptly devoured.

Over the next few days I was met by many smiling faces and welcomed into a close-knit camp family. I won’t lie to you, part of me expected to not be welcomed so readily. Of course, the campers and leaders had hosted DPF interns for years, and of course, they had requested an intern and knew how to handle one, and of course they would welcome me happily, but a part of me was still worried. Who am I to come barging into this family, an unfamiliar face, expecting to find something similar to my camp family back in Ohio, someone who doesn’t know their traditions, songs or inside jokes?

All qualms aside, I was welcomed unconditionally with radical hospitality yet again.

After learning the names of a few early-arriving campers and introducing myself a bit awkwardly on Sunday evening, I started to feel at home. As a counselor I bunked with a room full of Chi-Rho girls, and a few other young counselors. They shared secrets with me, asked for my prayers, played games with me, and told me which boy campers they were crushing on. Once again, I saw radical hospitality in their openness.

While I was continually shown radical hospitality time and time again throughout the week, I’ll leave you with only one more example.

On Thursday I was asked to give a keynote that followed the theme for the week: questions. In the past year, campers had asked intentional questions that they wanted answered, such as why do bad things happen to good people? And what should I do when someone counteracts my faith? I decided to ask and answer a question of my own: how are we as Christians called to respond to people of other faiths? And do we worship the same god/God as people of other faiths? Of course, these are hard questions to answer. Isn’t our role as Christians to spread the Gospel news, witness about Jesus’ love for humankind, and share our faith experiences with others? And do we really worship the same god? The same god who tells people to kill in that god’s name? I then shared examples from different religious texts that each depicts a god who expects unconditional love of all that god’s followers, and demands respect from all people for all people. I asked the thoughtful campers one more question: does it matter if we worship the same god?

To my delight, they responded with a resounding “no!”

Their openness towards my ideas about interfaith dialogue and acceptance of all people showed me, yet again, their radical hospitality, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their insightful and challenging discussions.

So I’d like to pose the same question to each of you:
Do we worship the same God as people of other faiths?

And finally, my answer:
Does it matter?

Following the path to radical hospitality,
Cara

Faith, Hope, and Love

One Bible verse that always struck a chord within me was 1 Corinthians 13:13, which reads: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” It’s a classic verse seen on paintings, bracelets, and read at thousands of weddings. Up until now, I have always agreed with it. Love is a very powerful force which should be valued. Love can do amazing things.

However, this summer, I have been overcome with hope. I have met youth at camps all over the summer who give me hope for their generation, for the world, and for our church. This was really apparent at the Pacific Southwest Region’s CYF 1 Camp at the idyllic Loch Leven Conference Center. As our keynoter was leaving, he spoke about how we wished the campers would take what they had learned back “down the mountain” from camp. He played the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor. The lyrics spoke to everyone in the room, and really touched me.

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

The campers I met this summer have been through things that I cannot imagine. They face the challenges of suicide, depression, abandonment, economic struggles, and more. Yet they still came to camp. They still gave up a week of summer to be with people who they hoped would love them and support them. They allowed themselves to be changed by God and be made into something beautiful.

I feel that our society has grossly misunderstood and underestimated these young people. I have seen firsthand that they are intelligent, dedicated, passionate, and driven. At all camps, we talked about how much camp was like an “escape” and not the “real world.” I couldn’t help but think about what it would be like if camp was the norm? What if our churches could recreate the feeling we experience at camp? We could have such an amazing community full of life completely run by young people.

Faith was apparent this summer at camp. Love was abundant. But hope – hope truly stood out at the greatest of these.

Peace,

Aly