new church life: march/april 2015
All of humankind
was created with
so many intricate,
complicated,
layered subtleties
and differences;
and underneath
it all, underneath
our facades and
judgments, it all
boils down to love.
horizon and the stars peek out. Break the numbness.
All it takes is starting to notice the heartbeat in your
ears and the breath in the palms of your hands –
sensing stillness in movement, space in tight corners,
silence in noise.
Vulnerability takes immense strength and yields the
simplest yet most suppressed and craved need to love
and be loved. In Kenya struggle and hardship are so
common everyone has to wear them on their sleeves.
There is such beauty to being honest and raw with
the world.
This is what Kenyan culture and working
with the kids really drove home. It’s an entirely
different world, run by different rules and
expectations. It’s easy to witness developing
countries from afar and feel unable to relate.
But this is what the simple, minimalistic
lifestyle with daily struggle brings to light.
All of humankind was created with so
many intricate, complicated, layered subtleties
and differences; and underneath it all, underneath our facades and judgments,
it all boils down to love. We must realize hearts are built to be broken, and
experiencing the cruel pulsation of struggle only opens us to live with lightness.
Love is the best gift a human can give and I will never stop wondering
how I got so incredibly lucky – to be able to give and receive love from all these
incredible kids. I wish that feeling upon everyone, every day, in some form.
Love wins.
(See photos on pages 200-201)
Cailin Elphick completed two terms at Bryn Athyn College
which helped her realize that she didn't need a degree for what
she wanted to do. She is taking time off to save money and to be
able to volunteer abroad and explore other types of career paths.
She volunteered in Nepal in the summer of 2013 and in Kenya
this past summer. She is pursuing yoga, nannying and working
full time at AllWays Café in Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania.
She is also looking into new opportunities to continue gain ing
life experience through travel and non-profit/social work. Contact: [email protected]
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