Bright Colors

When we take ourselves too seriously

When we laugh and don't mean it

When we search for answers and find doubt

When we seek love, and feel mistrust

When we judge our neighbor, and don't understand them

When we long to know purpose, and look to success,

We are missing it.

It is time to let go.

It is time to start again.

Seeds of Peace

There I was in the asparagus patch. I found weeding to be awkward, always leaning over and tugging at the ground. There was a drought in Indiana, and the earth was thirsty.

I began talking to Jonathan, an intern on the farm. After a short time I learned that he will be spending the next 3 years in Palestine with Christian Peacemaker Teams. His mother is Palestine, and he has studied Arabic. He wants to experience the conflict firsthand and support the Palestinian people in whatever way he can.

"When I was in the Gaza Strip we used to accompany children to school," Cliff said. Cliff Kindy is an older man with a long, curly beard. His gentle, silly demeanor is surprising since he has spent much of his life in violent places such as Iraq, Columbia and Honduras. Cliff and Arlene live on the Kindy Farm near North Manchester, Indiana. They live on the land and sell produce at the local farmer's market. They live simply on purpose, so that they will not have to pay federal taxes and support the many wars our country fights.

Standing on earth, I listened to his stories of being in dangerous places and the people he met along the way. I asked him if he was afraid to die. "We've all got to die sometime," he responded. Yet somehow the suicide bomber let him live, the doctors were able to repair his head after a serious car accident, and the Israeli soldier chose not to shoot him.

After some time Margaret chimed in. "In Africa, there is so much violence. It all comes down to education." She is in her 60's, and has determined that she would like to spend as much of her life volunteering as possible. She served in the Peace Corps in Ghana, and volunteered with WISER in Kenya. She is now in my orientation unit, going to serve with L'Arche intentional community for people with disabilities in Cork, Ireland.

In the asparagus patch I felt the presence of the divine, guiding my path and teaching me along the way. The seeds of peace are planted in all these places of need around the world. The seeds of peace are planted on this small farm in Indiana. May peace be planted in all of our hearts, so that violence and judgement may cease, and that we may be changed.

Orientation

Here is a meditation song I wrote on our first day at orientation:

I want to be an empty bowl
Beside a quiet stream
You can pour water in me
To make me new and clean, make me new and clean.

We are in Chicago at Brethren Volunteer Service orientation. There are three main goals of this orientation: to mentally, physically and spiritually prepare for our volunteer project, to practice living in community, and to practice living simply.

This past week we have been living at the Brother David Darst Center for Justice & Peace, Spirituality and Education. It is a former convent, where the old walls seem to talk of peace.

At the orientation there are 6 other volunteers going to different places around the country and the world. We have an interesting group - some people straight out of high school, some just having finished college, one older adult who has been living in Africa the past 4 years, and one guy from Germany. They have each surprised me and taught me things that I was not expecting. It just goes to show - every person you meet will change you, in one way or another.

It is difficult at times, living in community. I have found I get cranky easily without space and time to myself. It has given me a new appreciation for those with disabilities who live in group homes! It is important to find ways to recharge while being with people.

For the most part I am enjoying this time. A time to reflect and learn, and laugh a lot too. Here are a couple examples of our day:

7:30AM Breakfast
8:30AM Devotion (journaling time)
9:00AM Growing Home visit (a social enterprise helping adults get back in the workforce through learning urban farming skills)
12:30PM Lunch
2:00PM Who are the Brethren?
6:00PM Dinner
7:30PM Faith Stories (we made artwork/poetry and shared our journeys)
9:00 Devotion (5 minutes of silence, a short reflection by one of the group members)

We have also had sessions on social justice, attitudes of service, working styles, and project placements. Today we are having an all-day session on "Conflict and You". It's an opportunity to look at how we relate to other people and learn strategies for conflict resolution.

In addition we have food runs and food groups. We are on a tight budget - usually $10 per meal (for 10 people). We are eating (mostly) vegeterian, but enjoying tasty meals with a lot of carbs. Mmmm carbs.

We have had volunteer work days at a few non-profits on the southside. We toured a place called Growing Home, a social enterprise that operates a few urban organic farms as a vehicle for job training, employment, and community development. We volunteered at Port Ministries, a place that provides english classes, meals and child care for families and children in poverty. Finally we worked our tails off at Su Casa, a home for homeless Latino families and a soup kitchen. I love learning about non-profits and the creative ways people find to help others in need.

Perhaps the most interesting day so far was "drop off day", a BVS tradition that started in the 50's. We went to Elgin, Illinois where the Brethren main offices are. We were not told until the afternoon that the orientation staff were going to drop us off in the middle of Elgin in pairs, with a map and a garbage bag.

Our assignment was to complete acts of service.

Hallie and I were nervous when we hopped out of the van. Would people be open to us coming into their houses to do dishes? Would we find someone who wanted to talk, or pick up trash on the side of the road? Would we be able to find our way back to the meeting place?

We stopped and asked one Latina woman if she needed help around her house. "No, gracias," she said. We asked another Latino family having a garage sale. "No, gracias". We wandered up the road in the summer heat. Lucky for us, we stumbled upon a nursing home. We talked to the recreation coordinator, who informed us it was manicure day.

Now, I have done many a manicure working at Sholom Home and it is not my strongest suit. I was asked to clean the dirt from underneath the women's nails, and I did. Volunteering is not always glamorous. I did get to play some music on the piano and sing, which was fun. The 100 year old woman with dementia knew every word to every song. Music connects people in ways nothing else can!

Tomorrow we will head to Kindy Farm, an organic farm in Indiana. We will be working on the farm, camping in a barn, and bathing via a bucket poured over our head. I look forward to seeing what new things I will learn as we continue on this journey.

I hope to be an open soul, quiet and blessed.
And I will listen as you speak,
In the silence, rest,
In the silence rest.

Goodbye for Now, Minnesota

I woke up with the sun this morning. It's hard to sleep on one's last full day in Minnesota.

I moved to Minneapolis 5 years ago with the knowledge that the Mississippi River was here and that the residents at my music therapy internship had a jug band. I did not know that negative 20 degrees is "typical January weather" or that Minnesota really does have that many lakes. I did not know that people could be so excited by a state fair and things on a stick. I did not know what going "up north" meant and how beautiful it is on the north shore. I did not know how much I would enjoy that first spring day after the winter thaw.

I have come to love this place and so many people in it!

St. Luke Presbyterian Church: Every Sunday Chris and I drive out to Wayzata, a small suburb on Lake Minnetonka. St. Luke embodies the mystery of God's goodness and grace. It has been a place for Chris and I to grow in our adult lives, to be challenged, to make music, and to cry. The strangest thing of all is that the pastor, Gwin Pratt and his wife AJ are two of my mom's best friends. The Pratt's moved up to Minnesota just a month after I did, and it has been so good to have family here in Minnesota. We were commissioned as "missionaries for peace" at St. Luke just a few weeks ago, which was an experience very similar to our wedding. We felt both celebrated and supported. We are excited to stay connected to our church community.

Here a song that I wrote about my faith here (performed during worship at St. Luke, Chris on drums)

Minneapolis YWCA: This was the place where I learned to exercise. I have never been much of a gym person, but at the YW I felt safe to try new things. Plus, it's just more fun to do Zumba when you're surrounded with women from all over the world.

Minnehaha Parkway: I love to walk. It connects me to the earth and to myself. The Minnehaha Parkway and I have many good memories together. I love that Minneapolis has so much green space - it is easy to "get away" from the city life.

5521: We have lived in our apartment off of Diamond Lake and Nicollet for 3 years. We will miss the beautiful back yard with the bar, the built in bookshelves, and of course our upstairs neighbors who helped us learn Spanish!

Books n' Brews: My book club. Few of us truly read the book, but we always have wonderful discussions. Sometimes we also have Dilly Bars.

Butter Bakery Cafe: I write my own music, as does Chris and it has been great to have a place to share it. They are moving to Nicollet and 37th, and I can't wait to see their new digs! Dan Swenson-Klatt is one of those business owners that you can feel great supporting :)

Twin Cities Ultimate League: I am really not good at frisbee, but this has been a fun group to be a part of. Plus, they go to a bar named Biff's every Tuesday all summer long! There's nothing better.

La Conexion de las Americas: This is the school where we have been studying Spanish. Taught by native speakers with lots of laughter, it has been a supportive place which helped shape our journey to El Salvador. I am so sad that the non-profit is closing, but grateful for our time there.

Juicy Lucys: Good gravy these are delicious. I will miss you.

I am also so grateful for University Good Samaritan Speciality Center, where I did my internship. They did indeed have a jug band, along with so many other creative programs. I had the privelege of writing songs with a woman with Huntington's disease. I still think of her, and admire her courage.

We also had monthly jam sessions, like the picture here:

And then there was Sholom Home, where I started a music therapy program and worked for their hospice. What a joy to learn about the Jewish culture. I still love Jewish music, and miss singing it. Yiddishe Mama, Oyfn Pipeschick, Hava Nagila...

Lifeworks is a difficult place to leave. I wish I had 10 more years to spend with you! To any clients or staff reading this, you are lucky to be a part of such a great community! I am excited to hear how Lifeworks grows and changes in the future, please keep me updated.

Here is a picture of a few of the members of AT band:

Chris just came over and gave me a sweet hug. It's time to pack our cars, and get ready to go.

Thanks, Minnesota for all these things and so many more. I am lucky to have so much to be sad about! Goodbye for now :)

NOTE: In the time it took me to write this blog, Chris packed my car to the brim. He is a good man (and those are hard to find).



A video about Centro Arte para la Paz, where we will be volunteering for 2 years starting in August.

This week was a week of goodbyes. To Lifeworks Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Hastings, Burnsville and Mankato, I want to say thank you.

I have worked as a music therapist at Lifeworks for 2 years. In these two years, I have enjoyed seeing staff smiling at work, and laughing with clients. I had not experienced such joy in a work environment before. What would we do without humor?

I have learned about the wonder (and simplicity) of assistive technology and its ability to help us communicate with one another. I have learned about communication in all its many forms - be it the raising of an eyebrow, the movement of a hand, eye gaze, pointing at a picture, speech, sign language, vocalization. There are many ways people share with us, if only we take the time to listen.

I have lugged large amps, supported musicians with disabilities (including Lifeworks Joyful Singers!), brainstormed behavioral support for clients, developed music group curriculum and trained staff, taught social skills through song, made music in many forms (always with a goal of learning a skill or meeting a sensory need), and ate way too many Jimmy John's sandwiches.

I have written a lot of songs with clients, which is always an interesting/surprising process. Read the wisdom of clients at Lifeworks Bloomington:

Change happens around the world,
Change happens all the time,
Change sometimes happens to me,
Yeah, yeah, yeah mon!

Later in the song they sing "change is also good, it makes you grow it makes you real." This week I have felt very raw and real, just like the clients wrote.

Over the past 2 weeks I have said goodbye to around 150 clients, and even more staff. Goodbyes are hard, there is no way around but through.

Tonight, I celebrate people's gifts and abilities. Thank you for sharing them, thank you for teaching me. I am lucky to know each of you!