Florence's Graduation
On January 12, 2008 one of our participating families, along with her mentors from Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale, celebrated the end of a 16 month journey to self-sufficiency. Both Florence and her mentors shared food, laughter, tears, reflections on their shared journey and offered wisdom for the future. Florence’s two daughters proudly presented their mother with her graduation certificate. It was certainly a day to commemorate both Florence’s achievements, as well as, her mentors’.
When prompted to share a word to summarize her journey at Bridge of Hope BuxMont, Florence chose the word “rebirth.” Most certainly the external circumstances in Florence’s life had shifted. She began Bridge of Hope BuxMont’s program without a car, without a permanent job and in an apartment too small for her family of three. She is exiting Bridge of Hope’s program driving a car of her own, in a permanent job with benefits and paying her own rent for a two bedroom apartment. But, in choosing to acknowledge her achievements, Florence came to describe her internal transformation as the most valuable gift of her 16 month journey. Florence recognized that her journey of challenges is not complete. She will remain head of a single income household. She will live on a tight budget. She will continue to bear single parent responsibilities. However, she is able to trust her judgment, believe in her strength and see wonderful possibilities in her life. She has become transparent to her goodness and this knowledge will undoubtedly sustain her as she continues her journey.
Certainly, Florence possessed what American journalist Dorothy Thompson, once named as the most important dimension of courage, ‘the ability to affirm inwardly that life with all its sorrows is good; that everything is meaningful even if in a sense beyond our understanding; and that there is always tomorrow.’ She had a consistent ability to find a blessing or acknowledge goodness in some of her more painful and challenging circumstances. Her capacity to do so was acknowledged and celebrated by the eight women, who had supported her over the course of her journey.
Together Florence and her mentors learned that life unfailingly challenges our expectations. However, it is in moments of great pain, frustration and confusion that we are invited to discover our best attributes. As Florence gained an appreciation of who she could be in the midst of adversity, her mentors gained an appreciation of what they could give in spite of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
On January 12, 2008, Florence and her mentors acknowledged a mutual process of growth, persistence, patience and respect. Each gave witness to the invaluable worth of each person’s gifts in Florence’s journey to self-sufficiency. Both Florence and her mentors discovered their best possibilities in the course of their 16 month journey. Despite the overwhelming suffering in the world, we create a refuge for ourselves and others when we acknowledge our presence as an invaluable gift to the world. In reaching out to another, we affirm that invaluable gift of life for ourselves and for the other. Indeed when we become transparent to our goodness, we bring hope and healing to our world. On Saturday, January 12, 2008, we celebrated great possibilities born with great love practiced. Thanks to you, Florence and the wonderful women of Christ United Methodist!