Drug Squad heads south

It's Monday evening & as I sit at the computer typing utter exhaustion is setting in, but I wanted to take the time to reflect a bit before my head hits the pillow tonight. The past 72 hours have been a whirl wind that leaves my eyelids heavy, but my heart rejuvenated.
This weekend marked the sixth annual Drug Squad retreat where 28 teenagers boarded a yellow bus at Seneca bound for the Lawler Farm in Greenbay, Va. It's hard to believe that this was the sixth year, but each set of teens who make the trek each year brings new challenges, experiences and lessons to be learned.

One of the things I focused on this year was establishing a view of people in a way that adhered to my ever so cliche, 'judge free zone' mentality. We are very quick to make assumptions, judgement calls and attach labels to people within a matter of minutes and having nothing to really substantiate this with. It was amazing to witness 28 sets of eyes connect this reality (the fact is we are all, to some degree, guilty of false assumptions) among their peers. When we keep our eyes and ears closed off to listening to the passions, struggles and life stories of others we miss out on some potentially amazing relationships.
I am very proud of these kids & their determination to make an impact on those around them. Seventeen and eighteen year old kids with a degree of heart, integrity and empathy that leaves me in awe. Even though I didn't even make it to bed until after 3 in the morning and rolled back out a mere 3.5 hours later, it is so very worth it. I feel blessed to have the opportunities that I do to work with the hearts of kids that are the future. There's something pretty special about seeing the fire in their eyes and drive to truly change the world for the better. These young people challenge me to be a better person and reassure me that ears are listening and hearts are opening in a way that will, in many ways, change the world.

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I had the opportunity to head up to Bayonne right after work on Friday. When I was a little kid weekends, summer and holidays brought with it uncles, aunts, cousins and distant relatives. Since college it has felt like the connection that once was has lessened and family gatherings have become limited to weddings and funerals. I guess it's a sign of our society. I consider myself partly to blame within my own extended family. Maybe I just got caught up in the responsibilities of life, work and my own thing. I'm not sure how to change the tide at this point, but part of me finds a little bit of what was when I roll back into Bayonne.

Over the next few months I hope to rekindle the connection I once had with my cousin, Jenna. I hope as she begins the transition from high school to college and beyond that I can play a role in the chapters of life that lie ahead of her instead of merely being caught up to speed at the next wedding or family function. So maybe that means more treks to Bayonne, going from text to phone call and pursuing a relationship that will require effort on both parts. I think that's a pretty solid goal.
And in the midst of strengthening the extended family tree, it is often my gatherings with dear friends that keep this heart uplifted and attaining a sense of comradery that can only be found in ventures with the girls. There is something unique and precious when it comes to friendship, good conversation and the ability to laugh until you cry or wet yourself. Yup, friendship is good for the soul and as we press on towards another year I'm going to keep running strong with that one.

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11.11.10

Today marks the 11th of November where we as a nation recognize our veterans who have served this great country. We are blessed. We live in a nation abounding in freedom and abundance. As we walk around our neighborhoods, exchange political views around the water cooler and attend our places of worship on Sunday mornings it is easy to fall into routine and not connect freedom with cost. Men and women are stationed around the globe protecting, serving and sacrificing. I am thankful to live in such a great country.

I can close my eyes and flashback to far corners of the globe where oppression and fear drive their citizens. From perusing the markets of Minsk, Belarus to hopping buses along the coast of the Sinai of Egypt it is life altering to engage in everyday life with people who have endured political, religious and economical tempests that we can only imagine through our television sets in the warmth and comforts of our homes. The summer before my junior year of college I spent in Minsk, Belarus. From the moment we rolled into the dilapidated airport in Minsk that was lined with soldiers carrying M-16s to enduring a 24 hour train ride from Russia to Poland where customs officials raided our small train compartments in search of possible contraband my eyes were abruptly opened to a whole new realm of reality.

When going about the daily grind it's easy to lose grasp of what the cost has been (and continues to be) to allow us the freedoms and liberties that others across the globe do not have. We are blessed. I am thankful for those in uniform. I still get goosebumps thinking of the 1st time I heard the national anthem after my stint in Belarus. Standing in Yankees Stadium among a few thousand fans I choked back tears listening to the words and connecting the meaning with the flag that waved above. Freedom is not free and we must never forget that.

Today I also struggle with the strange reality that my little sister would have been 29 today. Hard to imagine Shana at 29. But in the midst of all the ups and downs and in betweens of life I thank God for each chapter of the life I have lead. I have come to the reality that it is not my job to figure out or ask the 'whys' in the different stages of my life or that of others; all that provokes is sadness, frustration and potentially anger. There is a reason, a purpose and a season for everything. I am thankful for my today and am unsure of how many tomorrows that I will have, but each is a journey unto itself. The truth is that life, indeed, is not about the years lived, but instead the moments that take our breaths away.

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