Hello from Brooklyn! I can’t believe that May has come and gone so quickly. But I can’t wait for summer in the city… so many free outdoor events to look forward to! The highlights since Brooklyn’s last post include hosting guests (holla @ the lovely Wickatunks), job searching & interviewing, Earth day celebrations, lectures & readings for community/spirituality nights, hanging out with our support person Katie, many community dinners together, and of course the silent retreat.
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| Game night with our wonderful support person Katie! |
GSV’s open-mindedness towards spirituality is one of the features that made me choose GSV over other programs. Everyone is at a different stage in their spiritual journey, so we went into the silent spirituality retreat with a variety of hopes, fears, and expectations. When I talked with my roommates after the retreat it was crazy to hear what a different experience we all had. I was pretty nervous about not being able to talk all weekend, but after the first few hours I grew comfortable in the silence and actually found it very peaceful. Taking away the distraction of talking with friends made it easier to focus. I must admit, it took me awhile to stop trying to structure my time and set goals for what I was to accomplish. But after a while you just need to “let go and let God,” the phrase Melissa (our retreat facilitator & GSV alum) had used. I really liked walking around the beautiful retreat grounds and reading passages from the prayer & reflection books to stimulate thought. One of the quotes which really resonated with me was by Anthony de Mello: “Behold God beholding you… and smiling.” I was also able to talk with a spiritual director twice during the retreat which was really helpful. Some of the group also went on a silent hike together, which was a reminder of how much you can enjoy being in the presence of others without exchanging any words. Overall, it was a relaxing retreat that came at a great time in the GSV year!
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| GSV hiking trip during the Silent Retreat |
There have been so many moments this year when I have this overwhelming feeling of gratefulness and joy from deep within. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by so many inspiring individuals with seemingly endless love in their hearts. My community is always there for me, whether I need to vent about a stressful day or am just on a crazy sugar high! Haha. But of course there are many difficult moments as well. Living in the city has been such an amazing experience because every day there are reminders of how much love & kindness exists in our world, as well as so much pain & suffering. I pass by hungry & homeless people every day and all I have to give them is a smile and a prayer. Each and every person with that look of desperation on their face breaks my heart a little. But I have learned to use it as a constant reminder that there is still so much work to be done. From sex trafficking to education inequality, my passion to work for social and economic justice has grown so much this year. My time with GSV has truly set my heart on fire. :)
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| Goofy character photo shoot for community night |
Just Lovin' <3,
Amanda
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