Friday - Morning Thoughts and Devotional

We began this day, as we have in the past, with a group devotional. Mike Hess, this week’s Team Leader, worked to put things into context. His reminder that we each have different gifts and an observation that we each came with different expectations and projects strove to put into context that we all work to the same end - improved life and opportunities for our Haitian brothers. He reminded us that no matter how well prepared we are, no matter how much resources we bring, we alone cannot make the “grand change” for Haiti - that power is beyond our individual human personal endeavor. We each “lay a brick”, “plumb a pipe”, “hammer a nail” as a part of the greater body of goodness and light - and this takes Haiti a step, perhaps even two steps forward.

Mike and MaryLu struggle each day to balance “save the person” from the day’s incursions with how do we make sustainable investments that continue to have impact after we leave. There is no single right answer, but often there are some who think there is.

Today we used a Cherokee meditation technique that led us through East, South, West and North compass points - each symbolizing different aspects of our collective work and dreams. The symbolism is not as important, in my mind, as the process. Look west. Examine the new day, the rising sun and its energy and the opportunities laid before us. Think about where our faith was born, how the east pains, how much there is to do. Look south to see the sun’s rays pass along the hills and valleys as people look to their day’s tasks - look south to Haiti and South America to those with need and those with accomplishments. See those who struggle and need our help. Look west. The slips beyond the horizon, giving us time to reflect upon the day and review the day’s work. To have time to rest and regroup, or to have the ultimate rest. Look north - a place often representing the darkness and unknown, the place where faith can reside - or hate and misunderstanding. We all left quietly, after receiving our lesson on the four points and then challenged to do the again thinking our own thoughts and wishes.