We met again last Thursday and attended the Seedfolks reading circle. Afterwards, I brought the teens to my house for ice cream and writing. Both times we've tried to write. But no one (including me) showed any interest in putting pen to paper.
The first week we had too much to talk about. One of the teens, a young man, kept saying, "Pastor Rochelle, your house is so peaceful. I've never been in a house like this. It's just so peaceful." We ended up talking about what peace looks and feels like to him—and the writing got pushed aside. Last week, we cleared away the empty dishes and took out the journals. After just minutes, one of the teens said, "It's too quiet here. I can't think." I laughed. Two teens noticing that my house was quiet—something I rarely appreciate—with different ideas about what that meant. But for both teens, the house and the ice cream and the company made it dificult to write!
So right now we are a "not writing" writing group—and that's okay. We're talking about books. The young people tell stories about their lives. They quote songs, introducing me to singers I'd never find on my own. I ask many questions about what this or that means. Last week I leaned about Yung Berg, what it means to them for someone to "act white", and something about fashion. I wonder if this is also dream keeping—encouraging and supporting these young people in talking about who they are, what they think and why they think it. I hope so. Because it is also so much fun!
The first week we had too much to talk about. One of the teens, a young man, kept saying, "Pastor Rochelle, your house is so peaceful. I've never been in a house like this. It's just so peaceful." We ended up talking about what peace looks and feels like to him—and the writing got pushed aside. Last week, we cleared away the empty dishes and took out the journals. After just minutes, one of the teens said, "It's too quiet here. I can't think." I laughed. Two teens noticing that my house was quiet—something I rarely appreciate—with different ideas about what that meant. But for both teens, the house and the ice cream and the company made it dificult to write!
So right now we are a "not writing" writing group—and that's okay. We're talking about books. The young people tell stories about their lives. They quote songs, introducing me to singers I'd never find on my own. I ask many questions about what this or that means. Last week I leaned about Yung Berg, what it means to them for someone to "act white", and something about fashion. I wonder if this is also dream keeping—encouraging and supporting these young people in talking about who they are, what they think and why they think it. I hope so. Because it is also so much fun!
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