First Impressions
Thankful for the Past, Hopeful for the Future
May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and [Trinity] of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Romans 15:5-6
It has been a full first week as I and 7 other young adults began our Summer of learning, exploring, and admiring the historic and present wonders of our new home in the Capitol. During our Orientation, I was reminded of how much I enjoy hearing the stories of others. Having just graduated from my undergraduate university, I have had many opportunities to share pieces of my own story with others in answering questions about where I am from, what I am studying, and what I intend to do in the future. Sound familiar?
I must admit that the smallest bit of anxiety comes over me when I am tasked with sharing just 1 or 2 things about myself because what I enjoy most about these commnity-building questions is how quickly we can connect with what seeming strangers share. You can then imagine how narrowing down ourselves to brief sentences makes my indecisive self flustered to pick just the right few. (And then I almost always regret the few I’ve chosen and think of the perfect combination immediately after I’ve spoken)
All this is to say that I appreciated hearing a different tone to this same old tune when our program coordinator, Katie Monfortte, explained such an exercise differently. She qualified from the beginning that we will simply not be able to know each other fully through what we share. Not that we will not have enough time, or that we will have to continue sharing at other points in the program, but that our vocalization of our whole beings is just not possible at all. We concluded by saying that we are always more than meets the eye and the mystery of ourselves is yet to be unraveled as we simply live together.
I must admit that the smallest bit of anxiety comes over me when I am tasked with sharing just 1 or 2 things about myself because what I enjoy most about these commnity-building questions is how quickly we can connect with what seeming strangers share. You can then imagine how narrowing down ourselves to brief sentences makes my indecisive self flustered to pick just the right few. (And then I almost always regret the few I’ve chosen and think of the perfect combination immediately after I’ve spoken)
All this is to say that I appreciated hearing a different tone to this same old tune when our program coordinator, Katie Monfortte, explained such an exercise differently. She qualified from the beginning that we will simply not be able to know each other fully through what we share. Not that we will not have enough time, or that we will have to continue sharing at other points in the program, but that our vocalization of our whole beings is just not possible at all. We concluded by saying that we are always more than meets the eye and the mystery of ourselves is yet to be unraveled as we simply live together.
Living together, in intentional community, is what our readings and discussions have been about this week. As Christians we are to see ourselves and others as inherently dignified, made in the likeness of Christ. This is lived out in assuming the best of others and by generously giving grace when needed because, as we’ve learned, there is always more to people than meets the eye. Overwhelmed by the generosity extended towards me and the potential that these places and spaces offer I look forward to a bright Summer reflecting on our inherited values and dreaming up our future contributions.
With kindness like Kevin,
Nura Esther Zaki
Blog Post #1
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As a 2017 EYA Intern, Nura is working with The Democracy Initiative this Summer in the fields of Grassroots Mobilizing and Communications.
Blog Post #1
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As a 2017 EYA Intern, Nura is working with The Democracy Initiative this Summer in the fields of Grassroots Mobilizing and Communications.
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