A Post From Ryan
We can sit around and “talk story” all day long, focusing on the values of diversity, environmental justice, equity, communication and create as many simulations as we want but you all know that nothing beats walking the walk. The highlight of my last two months was watching teenagers navigate through a grocery store in dialogue about who wants meat vs. veggies; who can eat pork or not; and who likes sweet vs. healthy. This is where I remembered what a mentor of mine told me while holding me back as I ran to help, coach and dictate the way a group of students at the Wilderness Treatment Center should cross a river. My compulsive thinking urged me to explain to them how to work together, what was safe, and how to communicate – the counselor Pat said “Trust the experience”. It’s been ten years since then and I’m finally starting to get it – The last words in the song on this Thank You Story Video say “It’s alright Mama, Let your children be loud; It’s alright Mama, Let them run into trouble” – Martin Sexton must have had the same mentor.
Walking a half mile up the hill from Smith’ Grocery Store back to East High School the students traded off carrying the backpacks full of food, laughing and running up the geologic fault that divides the East side of Salt Lake City from the West side. The group is diverse. representing 8 different nationalities; Buddhists, Christians and Muslims; Rich and Poor; and it could be characterized by a host of other differences that on a societal level could cause violent conflict. The fault of our societal system is that we rarely learn to walk that steep hill of diversity with grace. Every time I see the divide between East side kids and West side kids or read the newspaper headlines about warring sects, I will watch through my mind’s eye a group of students crossing a literal and metaphorical fault peacefully overcoming conflict .
I believe this paradox of peace and conflict can be navigated without violence and it begins with me embracing the paradoxical thoughts, feelings, and cultures within my own body. I am learning this via relationships while backpacking through the wilderness and journaling about what author and psychologist Gerald May (2006) calls the "wild within." I am working to make this exploration as public as I feel comfortable with so that others may provide insight about how to embody paradox and potentially learn from the pitfalls and grace that I encounter along the way.
The last two weeks have produced a roller coaster of logistical roadblocks that have re-routed us into a wilderness of relationships far more rich than what we planned. Our first partner, the Wasatch Mountain Club, has been extremely patient with the changes in our logistics and will accommodate us for a winter retreat/celebration on December 4th; The facebook causes site recruited 40 donors and 1,600 dollars to pay for food, vehicle, and gas; At the last minute, a program called Gear to Grow donated a set of warm clothing and rain gear for 15 students and the Face of Fitness program through the Salt Lake School district adopted us and will purchase all camping gear under the condition that we expose students to science related careers through the outdoor industry. The video associated with this update is the beginning of our story together and serves as a thank you to everyone who is supporting our “hero’s journey”.
This thanks goes out to Jamie who has been the point person on the UT 350 walk and had to adapt and change our route and start date because of the wilderness rites of passage trip and the hurdles we have encountered.
We can sit around and “talk story” all day long, focusing on the values of diversity, environmental justice, equity, communication and create as many simulations as we want but you all know that nothing beats walking the walk. The highlight of my last two months was watching teenagers navigate through a grocery store in dialogue about who wants meat vs. veggies; who can eat pork or not; and who likes sweet vs. healthy. This is where I remembered what a mentor of mine told me while holding me back as I ran to help, coach and dictate the way a group of students at the Wilderness Treatment Center should cross a river. My compulsive thinking urged me to explain to them how to work together, what was safe, and how to communicate – the counselor Pat said “Trust the experience”. It’s been ten years since then and I’m finally starting to get it – The last words in the song on this Thank You Story Video say “It’s alright Mama, Let your children be loud; It’s alright Mama, Let them run into trouble” – Martin Sexton must have had the same mentor.
Walking a half mile up the hill from Smith’ Grocery Store back to East High School the students traded off carrying the backpacks full of food, laughing and running up the geologic fault that divides the East side of Salt Lake City from the West side. The group is diverse. representing 8 different nationalities; Buddhists, Christians and Muslims; Rich and Poor; and it could be characterized by a host of other differences that on a societal level could cause violent conflict. The fault of our societal system is that we rarely learn to walk that steep hill of diversity with grace. Every time I see the divide between East side kids and West side kids or read the newspaper headlines about warring sects, I will watch through my mind’s eye a group of students crossing a literal and metaphorical fault peacefully overcoming conflict .
I believe this paradox of peace and conflict can be navigated without violence and it begins with me embracing the paradoxical thoughts, feelings, and cultures within my own body. I am learning this via relationships while backpacking through the wilderness and journaling about what author and psychologist Gerald May (2006) calls the "wild within." I am working to make this exploration as public as I feel comfortable with so that others may provide insight about how to embody paradox and potentially learn from the pitfalls and grace that I encounter along the way.
The last two weeks have produced a roller coaster of logistical roadblocks that have re-routed us into a wilderness of relationships far more rich than what we planned. Our first partner, the Wasatch Mountain Club, has been extremely patient with the changes in our logistics and will accommodate us for a winter retreat/celebration on December 4th; The facebook causes site recruited 40 donors and 1,600 dollars to pay for food, vehicle, and gas; At the last minute, a program called Gear to Grow donated a set of warm clothing and rain gear for 15 students and the Face of Fitness program through the Salt Lake School district adopted us and will purchase all camping gear under the condition that we expose students to science related careers through the outdoor industry. The video associated with this update is the beginning of our story together and serves as a thank you to everyone who is supporting our “hero’s journey”.
This thanks goes out to Jamie who has been the point person on the UT 350 walk and had to adapt and change our route and start date because of the wilderness rites of passage trip and the hurdles we have encountered.
RSS Feed