I AM IMPRESSED!

Over the past two evenings we have had the privilege of slowing down at night and having a group wide debrief time.  It is a time of open sharing based on our Daily Refreshers (devotions), experiences throughout the day, and overall impressions from the trip.  And I must say, I am impressed with this 8th grade class.  Their level of processing very real and difficult material (racism, slavery, segragation, etc.) is astounding.  

Here are some highlights that were shared by the students just last night(paraphrased):

  *Did you know that just like when the Israelites were in slavery Harriet Tubman was like Moses.

  *After seeing the affect of people's words during the civil rights era, it makes me realize what I say matters and I should be more cautious with my words.

  *It struck me how humble Martin Luther King Jr. was about his leadership role.  He would always say that it was not him leading the civil rights movement but all the folks, common and famous, that stand together who lead the movement.

  *I have had the chance to bond with my classmates in a new way and it gives me hope as I go back to school.

  *I'm thankful for what these men and women did so that I live in a different world.

These are only snapshots of the amazing moments that were shared.  I really wish I could have had parents, teachers, grandparents, and friends sit in as "flies on the wall" and listen.  The power of what these students had to share was stirring, moving and filled all the adults with a grand sense of hope in knowing they will be a part of our future.

Dr. MacPhee said it well at the end of last nights meeting (again paraphrased).  He stood up quitely and posed this question, 

     Do you think when MLK Jr. and Rosa Parks were 12 years old that any of their parents or teachers had any idea what they would do with their lives?  

Of course the answer is no.  There is no way for us to see what will transpire in someone's life.  So he pointed out that at this very moment we might be sitting in a room with the next Martin Luther King Jr. or Rosa Parks.  Wow, what a powerful thought.  Ordinary people at the right moment in time, standing up against injustice with the power of Jesus on their side and make a peaceful yet powerful stand for the movement of good could be riding on these buses through the southeast.  

What will be the civil rights issues that this generation will face, challenge and overcome? .