Rev. Carolyn Dugan – Associate Regional Minister of Outdoor Ministries
At the beginning of each camp this summer, as we sat in the back room of the John Gray on Sunday afternoon talking about the camp rules, updated regulations, sharing questions and setting up last second projects; as we wait for the campers to arrive, I would share this poem:
Prospective Immigrants Please Note, by Adrienne Rich
Prospective Immigrants Please Note
Either you will
go through this door
or you will not go through.
If you go through
there is always the risk
of remembering your name.
Things look at you doubly
and you must look back
and let them happen.
If you do not go through
it is possible
to live worthily
to maintain your attitudes
to hold your position
to die bravely
but much will blind you,
much will evade you,
at what cost who knows?
The door itself makes no promises.
It is only a door.
I read this with the perspective that as a leader for the campers that were excited and nervous about the camp coming up, we have a choice as leaders. We can walk through the door as leaders ready to meet them where they are, we can let things happen versus controlling what we think should happen and we can be vulnerable in this space with these people.
We can also choose to walk through the door and hold on to our thoughts and fears and still be worthy leaders, but at what cost to our campers and ourselves.
Both are ok spaces to be, but we need to realize we always have a choice.
As we shift from summer to fall, what door are you looking to walk through and what choice do you need make? May you have the courage to remember your name.