Looking back - and forward. Hope.

Sometimes, I just find myself in a reflective mood. This weekend, I have felt more reflective than usual, perhaps because I've had a little more time to sit and reflect!
At any rate, I found myself re-reading some blog posts from the past year. And I found myself smiling, a lot. Re-reading those memories, recalling the stories behind the blogs - the highs and some of the lows was incredibly fun and encouraging.
Although looking back is not always useful, in this case, I find it to be more full-filling. The young peeps, some a little older now than when I originally wrote about them (well, ok, they're all older, but some have just graduated to Mentorship), have grown into their new roles. And others, who disappeared for as much as a year, have returned, at least on the fringes.
The ups and downs, the ins and outs. They're all fun to remember - for in every down, we learned a lesson. In every up, we celebrated.
But to see how young people, new ones all the time, continue to CARE about their community. Continue to WANT to make a difference. Continue to be PASSIONATE about their work. It encourages me. It gives me HOPE.
It reminds me that, though we sometimes wish life was a straight road, the curves can be just as pleasing. They sometimes provide more sustainence than we give them credit for. Or at least, than I give them credit for.
And while I really am surprised by how long I've been writing this blog (although I admit I'm a little sporadic at it!), it is how quickly that time has gone that has REALLY surprised me. I feel like I blink and I miss a whole year. Call me nostalgic, if you will (go ahead, I admit it, I'm being nostalgic), but I'm not really. I feel like each week, my heart grows as another young person siddles into a new section of it. And each week, I see the change happening before my very eyes.
I'm buoyed by the growth of the young people. I'm encouraged by their dedication. I'm ready to see how things stand one year from now. But mostly, I'm really just grateful to know so many amazing young people. And even more grateful that they care, want and are passionate about change. They are hope.