“What moments will stick with you the most when you leave here?”
It was an interesting question. As I thought about it, I realized that the things that would stick with me the most would, in the whole scheme of things, not seem like a big deal. They’re simple things, really – moments that I would never mark on my calendar or look forward to with bated breath, but still moments that I would never want to give up.
I will remember the time I went to the Abbey of Gethsemani. I went to visit the monastery, but the moment that sticks out for me is not the prayer service, or the trail of statues, or the visitor center – it was sitting atop a hill in the grass, talking with Anna. The sun was shining, the grass was twisting in my fingertips, and words were climbing through the stillness.
I will remember the many early morning chit-chats in the office, with Clarence tossing a joke into the air above his desk, Peggy laughing across from him, Carrie passing back some light-hearted scolding.
I will remember the day at Camp AJ when Carlo and AJ convinced Katie, a somewhat reserved camper, to do an interpretive dance with them at the talent show. I smiled so wide my face hurt and laughed so hard I cried.
I will remember the canoe trip at Camp Shawnee when we stopped along the banks of the water where a group of trail riders were gathered. Horses milled about under the trees, nibbling at bits of grass while we stood in a circle and listened to their owner’s stories. We had stopped to simply pet some horses, but we received some pieces of history rolled in Southern hospitality to boot.
I will remember sitting on the worn-out porch swing, in the mixture of warmth and chill that is an autumn day, listening to Mary tell stories about her younger days of picking tobacco in the fields. I slowly chewed my turkey sandwich as pictures from years before I was born planted themselves in my mind.
I will remember the night of the super moon. Priscilla, Debbie, and I bought glow sticks and lugged a telescope to camp to watch the moon break through the darkness of the hills. The clouds threatened to block our view, so we did what one does when they need it to rain – a rain dance. Although in this case, it was a super moon dance. Three pieces of humanity twirling, laughing, and living on blacktop.
I will remember joking with Donny from Gray Hawk Lumber Supply. Mailbox tucked under my arm, I walked toward the counter where he awaited me. “Alright! That’s exactly what I want to see! She’s definitely sticking around now. Can’t leave once you’ve put in your mailbox,” he kidded. I laughed and shook my head. “It’s not for me!” I never thought when I came here that I would miss seeing the guy who works at the hardware store, but I will.
I will remember the time when we were looking for a Halloween movie to watch on Netflix and couldn’t find anything good. We settled on The Magic Puppy. The writing was terrible, the camera work was bad, and the acting was highly questionable. But the company was good. Erin handed out little pizzas while Emily, Paige, and I guffawed at the TV screen.
I will remember the hike with Anna and Shelby the first day we found our way to the top of Pretty House mountain. We wound our way around the rock and found the ascent. As I walked between the trees and undergrowth at the very top, I saw a break through the trees at the edge of the rock. “Oooo, guys, I think this is going to be good!” And it was. I shared an awesome view with awesome people.
I’ve been pretty restless lately. I’m at that point where I’m ready to head home, but still have a little over a month yet to go. I’ve tended to focus on the wrong things lately – the annoyances, the ugliness, the questions. But I know that’s not right.
It’s not right because God is always there, even in the simplest of things – on the grassy hill, in the morning at the office, at the top of the rock, buying a mailbox at the lumber supply. I just have to take the time to pay attention.
And I have to take the time to enjoy these simple moments, because I’m only going to be here, in this time and place, once. I need to make the most of it.
Elizabeth is a long-term volunteer serving in the Home Repair Program and living in the Jackson County community. In the past, Elizabeth has served with CAP as a volunteer in the S.P.A.R.K. after school program and as a camp counselor at Camp Andrew Jackson. Opinions expressed in volunteer blogs are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of CAP or the Volunteer Program.
