Walking home at night I find myself surrounded by Friendship Heights fire flies lighting up around me. I look to the sky and relive the past three days. A scenic twenty mile bike ride with a stop for lunch and exceedingly interesting visit to a forensic anthropology exhibition at the Natural History Museum. An insightful Leadership day followed by another day of Learning as an intern at the Habitat for Humanity Government Relations and Advocacy office. Each day is made up from multitudes of learning experiences. It is said that to aspire to leadership is an honourable ambition. I am beginning to experience something of that.
Through sate- of -the-art forensic anthropology work the causes which the founders of the greater DC area lived and died for can now be identified. Their identities and even physical appearances can accurately be found. Their bones left on earth tell us the story of their lives. Often in their case the purpose was survival and finding a place in this world.
As the week progresses I see the significance in what I had observed when Joyce and Richard Schwartz, my caring host parents, took Shane and myself to the Museum on Sunday. The SAWIPers gather for meetings and preparations for the cultural evening due next week. We go through the typical TEAMwork phenomena of Forming, Norming, STORMING and surely next week- Performing. This happens while we are dividing the respective subjects to be covered in our address of South Africa to our Irish Comrades. While participating in the planning of the event I am also actively observing our TEAM dynamics and operation. Coming from radically divergent and unique backgrounds this SAWIP 2009 TEAM aims for the zenith of heterogeneity. As we plan; personalities clash, opinions differ, misunderstandings arise- we STORM. We hear each other out, sacrifice a little bit here, a little bit there. Consensus is reached and the beauty of strong cohesiveness within the TEAM glimmers on the horizon.
My dream is that when our bones are found hundreds of years after our departure from this earth, our story will be discovered as one of a people who struggled and worked together for leadership that lead to true peace and reconciliation. As one of a people who endured frustrations and sufferings by respect and love to their fellow human beings. As one of a people that stood up for social justice and sought to protect the earth they had been given to inhabit. A people that knew what it was to truly be human.
Thank you for sharing your journey, but above all, thank you for caring… What a boytjie. Elizabeth
You write so wonderfully, really Petrus, I love reading your blogs.
this truly reminds me of purpose; that we can only lead people to true peace and reconciliation when we ourselves have that peace and contentment within ourselves. it comes through knowing and living purpose, and out of the abundance that flows from within, we cannot help but fragrance the world with peace. For we cannot give what we neither know nor have.
ngizwa inhliziyo yami igobhoza ngamanzi okuphila (i hear my heart bubbling with living water).
it is such an honor to be in the same leadership program with the Influencial and strong preacher of reconciliation and the word of god. keep it up man. you have a role to play, A story to tell and a nation to reconcile. I SALUTE YOU. it is people like you that will remain in the good books of this world, generations to come will look at your monuments and say “I WISH I HAD LIVED DURING HIS TIME”.
As always, Petrus, I’m amazed by your ability to synthesize your experiences into a meaningful whole. What a wonderful connection you made between the forensic anthropology exhibit and your own life. Keep up the blogs!!
I, too, have been struck by the soft beauty of an evening’s walk among the fire flies, probably while walking the same route that you took. What may matter most is what’s inside your head — what you mind imagines from the experience. You have a nice ability to combine your experiences into a creative new way of thinking about the world.
Hullo Petrus
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings so coherently. I am so happy that this experience in DC and with SAWIP is touching you (and your fellow-SAWIPers) so profoundly.
Sally
Petrus, what an excellent first blog, serousily really well written, well done
“and true humanity shall indeed come!” I am moved by everyone’s experiences; sensing the growing of a leadership of meaning and significance!
Hi Petrus!
Good luck today at the Capitol!