YASC Orientation

I can hardly believe that I am already over a week removed from the YASC training at the Holy Cross monastery in West Park, NY.  Between the actual cultural training, monastic setting, a trip to New York City, and all the people present during the two weeks of training, the experience was just so utterly unique and transformative.

The cultural training we received was an amalgamation of mission history, cultural processes (in both abstract and concrete senses), formation, and self-knowledge on both an individual and cultural level.  I was most profoundly struck by two aspects of our formal training: first, the incredible diversity in how human beings organize themselves around the world; and second, how knowing one’s self is of paramount importance in both in cross cultural settings and in one’s own personal (and spiritual) life.

I only had to step out of the “blue room” where our lectures were held in order to see what we had learned out in the world.  You really do have to marvel at people.  They belong to and participate in creating impressively intricate ways of living.  For example, the brothers at Holy Cross live in a culture of discipline and right relationship with one another and God.  Meanwhile, the residents of Brighton Beach, the borough that my group visited while in NYC, perpetuate a culture steeped in the Russian language and culture.

And yet, people are so much more than the culture to which they “belong”.  Not only are cultures are contested spaces, but we as individuals hardly ever follow a single monolithic way of life.  As individuals we have our own personalities, experiences, relationships, perceptions, preferences, and desires.  And we most certainly do not abide within the neat little confines of a single story*.

Holy Cross Monastery

I learned this lesson over and over again through everyone at monastery.  YASC and Episcopal Church staff, the brothers, fellow trainees, the Holy Cross staff, the visitors of the monastery not affiliated with our training. . . there is so much wisdom to be found in one another.  Forget cultural competency!  Our time together was one of incredible love, empathy, honesty, and compassion.  I can hardly describe just how much I learned about others, myself, and God through these people.

The great thing about all of this?  I am a person too!  I am a part of this wonderfully complex fabric of humanity.  Both collectively and individually humans can be as selfish as they are generous, as callous as they are empathetic.  I know personally that I still have a lot to learn about myself.  But it is comforting to know that no matter what, I am loved by God (and you are too!).

In the midst of our past orientation and our future missions (or present mission for at least a couple of us!), it is truly a testament to God’s awesomeness that such amazing and diverse people can come together, cultivate meaningful relationships, and then go out to do God’s work across the globe.  Boy am I fired up for what is to come -- out of the classroom and into the world!

*If you have 20 minutes to spare, I strongly recommend watching this Ted Talk entitled “The Danger of a Single Story” by Chimamanda Adichie