Monday, July 4, 2011

Holy Ground

We celebrated the Fourth of July in the afternoon with a festive picnic at the river's edge. We enjoyed hamburgers and grilled chicken, wading on the rocks in the river, and visiting with each other in a relaxed and beautiful setting.
Earlier in the day we attended an interesting class with a man who is a film director, writer, and artist in Los Angeles. Kenny takes his talent into prisons to listen to the life stories of incarcerated young women, many of whom have never had someone ask them about their lives and how they came to be there. After gaining their trust, he gathers the girls together in a conference room and uses evocative music from the movie industry to help them access deep places of rage, heartbreak, and despair and then journal about it. Next he has them write about gratitude and forgiveness. Lastly they journal about the things they find to love about themselves.

Kenny read us excerpts from their stories, many of which had themes of abuse, teen pregnancy, and gang violence. They also had healing strains of faith in God and a reaching out for life and love. With one man's volunteer efforts in the jails of LA, many girls are able to experience self-respect and healing for the first time in their lives. Kenny encouraged our class to do the journaling as we sat together. We were able to access our deep thoughts and emotions in a very short time and share them with each other in small groups. It was a cathartic experience that helped us to develop compassion for each other too.

At the end of the day as I carefully made my way down the dirt road to the building where my room is, I noticed something moving in the grass. As I stood there and waited, I saw something pop out of the ground pushing a small load of rocks and dirt. Again and again it came up and out of its hole. It was a small furry animal with little bucked teeth, a hamster's head and a long mongoose's body. It was a prairie dog! I laughed as I thought, "So THAT'S what's responsible for all of this "holey" ground!"

- Posted from my iPad
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4 comments:

  1. andreaJuly 5, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    I never saw a real, live, close-up Ground Hog, as in Puxatauny Phil.
    Very cool.

    Good for you, journaling.
    I've never been able to do it and cannot wrap my brain around it.
    I hear it works wonders for the Soul.

    PAX
    xox
    ♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. lynne troyJuly 5, 2011 at 11:16 PM

    In the book, Drawing on the right side of the brain, the author has you journal for 30 minutes right after you get up in the morning. In this case, you just write whatever comes to mind. I must say it was very helpful in solving all sorts of things. I've gotten away from it; but at the time, it was amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ronda Troy WattsJuly 5, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    Journaling is one of many methods of prayer we're learning here. My Spiritual Director says that Contemplation is the ultimatr goal...and she recommends The Cloud of Unknowing to learn it well.

    Thanks again for your comments. I'm beginning to get a little homesick! Xoxo Ronda

    ReplyDelete
  4. andreaJuly 9, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Lordy, Ronda~~~I worked on the Cloud 12 years ago and have to go back to it from time to time. Even bought it on cd. That's an understandable challenge. Good spiritual exercise!
    PAX
    xox
    ♥

    ReplyDelete

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