April 9, 1997 (Off-Trail visit to Camp Koinonia, Tennessee)

I woke to the sounds and smells of egg-battered bread and sizzling bacon. The only thing better than the hearing and the smelling was the tasting. As I stuffed myself, John shared their plans for me.

Kathy, a grad student at University of Tennessee in Therapeutic Recreation, has been at camp all week 100 miles west in Crossville, Tennessee. The camp, known as Camp Koinonia, for people with “severe disabilities,” is facilitated by 150 graduate and undergraduate students from UT. The 100 campers range in age from 6-22 and disabilities include mental retardation, muscular distrophy, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness, autism, and various others worth mentioning. I had no idea I would be doing this, but I am completely open to the experience.

A ride was arranged and I traveled to camp with the wife of the camp director and Tory (a student in the class and UT football player). We arrived around lunch time and I’ve been made to feel very welcome here. I am free to explore camp and to watch and participate when I wish.

I went out in search of Kathy. As soon as I spotted a group of people wearing their clothes backward and singing alligator songs, I knew I had found her.

Camp activities include cooking, nature crafts, music and movement, horseback riding, outdoor education, canoeing, computers, sports and games, and overnight camping. Each student is assigned a camper and is responsible for that camper 24 hours a day. For some, that responsibility is HUGE! But all seem to be challenged.

They’re treating me like a part of the camp already so I’ve volunteered to help serve meals and clean up afterward. It’s been a good way to meet people and earn my keep. Best of all, they said I could eat as much as I want, so maybe I’ll gain back some of the 10 lbs I’ve lost since I started hiking.

After only a few hours, I’m already very affected by this place.

Aquaholic

April 9, 2009

Hey Aquaholic,

There is a shift in consciousness happening. I’ve been feeling it for a while. A lot of people seem to be talking about making changes in their lives. I’m not the only one looking in the mirror and asking questions about my past, present, and future. I’m not the only one looking out at the world asking how I can make an authentic impact and affect positive change.

People are changing their expectations of themselves, their neighbors, and the global community. For almost a decade people have been running away from fear and the result is a planet loaded down with karmic weight. Under fear is not a sustainable way to exist.

The shift appears to be moving back toward a genuine pursuit of happiness. People seem to be more conscious of the laws of cause and effect. That we reap what we sow. That good begets good. People are more conscious about the sometimes harsh laws of nature and reality. That if we act with ignorance, even if we have good intentions, our path to happiness will be long and painful. The result is that more people – more than I have witnessed in a long time – are truly paying attention and making different choices.

It is no coincidence that our country recently elected a president whose message was “Vote for Change.” That message is summed up pretty well in this video:

Yes, our President is black. No, actually he is milano – black father, white mother. No, actually he is simply an American.

I’m still not heavy into politics but I think he is an amazing human being and we are very lucky to have him in that position. People are walking around now with a genuine sense of hope. The energy around the world has shifted from pessimism to optimism. From anger to exhilaration.

On that note, but in a local-here-and-now tone, I noticed a subtle change in me today. A sign that I am making some positive emotional progress. The boys and I made cookies this evening. Eight great big beautiful chocolate chip cookies!

When they came out of the oven, I did something I would not have done as recently as a week ago. I set aside two for my soon-to-be ex-wife.

O’