Lessons from Starfire University: “Growing in Relationships,” 4th in a series of 5

[QUICK REVIEW: Joseph Scheets, 26, graduated this week from an adult education opportunity for adults with special needs.  There is not enough space or time for me to tell you all the positive impact these past four years have had on his life.  Suffice it to say that as his dad, I am profoundly grateful to all involved.  Check out their site: http://www.starfirecouncil.org.

I’d like to spend some time with you thinking together about each of the five sections of the graduation program.  These are Experiencing Respect, Making Choices, Sharing Places, Growing in Relationships, and Making Contributions.  The printed program for Thursday evening’s Graduation had an explanatory phrase for each one, like this:]

GROWING IN RELATIONSHIPS

Developing a wide, diverse range of realtionsh with people

Three students exemplified this with their Capstone Projects —

• Krista is an artist and photographer who organized a group of professional artists and designers for the production of a mural depicting the over 50 neighborhoods and regions that are parts of Cincinnati.  It’s now on the wall of a community building, there was a showing of the various elements at an Art Museum with a Reception, and copies were distributed city-wide.

• Ahsley is a crafter and entreprenuer whose Scrapbooking and Crafting Day attracted a great crowd that raised money for a local charity in the process.  Working with business owners, she guided every step of the process, and was the hands-on leader of the event who won new fans and friends and followers by helping others.

• Lauren worked with a published poet on a book of original works.  She took part in an evening of Poetry Reading at a Cafe and Gallery Space, to great applause.  Lauren’s original artwork accompanies her poems in her book, which I’m guessing is but the first of many such volumes.  Lauren is a poet.

Discovery began as they developed ideas with teams of professionals in their fields.  Elation ensued as the events came to life and were enjoyed by appreciative crowds.

The relationships between students and their “Public Allies,” seasoned professionals in the respective fields with whom they worked, were clearly ones of deep and shared respect.  Their brief speeches and videos showed this, and it was powerfully moving.

More than an award for trying, more than applause for presence, these Capstones represented the realization of dreams.  Doors were discovered, knocked on, opened and walked through.   These Projects serve as introductions to the next chapter in each student’s life.

How about you today?  You have people all around you with whom you can interact.  Many are waiting for an opportunity to greet you and share a moment of their lives with you.  Do you have the courage to risk by reaching out to them?  A simple friendly greeting would be a solid start, and then the two of you can go forward from there.

Do that, and I’ll see you back here soon.