Thoughts on Raise the Roof and the past four years

Thank you, visitor, for taking the time to read my writing! This is planned to be the first 'official' entry within the ourgaiahouse.org collective online writings, and I think I can speak for all the staff at Gaia House-Interfaith Center when I say that we're excited for this new feature and we hope it keeps you coming back to ourgaiahouse.org to check out new writings and other going-ons.

Four years ago, when I began planning out the road-map of my college career and looking ahead to what walking down that road might actually mean, was when I first started participating in my community. Let me say that I did not mean to be a part of Gaia House when I first came to it. I had no aspirations for committing myself to any causes or organizations or followings. I had no intention of respecting delicate ecologies around me or trying to formulate and understand anything but the decisions that I had made on hand.

Instead, Gaia House became a part of me, committed itself to my causes, and showed me that respecting myself meant thinking about the world around me every step of the way--with every decision I had to make.

This isn't supposed to sound as terribly clique as it may, and it isn't a story about a savior, or someone who needed saving. I wasn't really in need of anything Gaia House had to offer, as I've said. The steps that I had taken forward every day to that point were a result of my desires to establish myself in this world, but as anyone tends to do, I was lulled into taking my steps towards my destination without stopping to consider the importance of what was already around me.

Being a part of Gaia House-Interfaith Center has taught me many practical, tangible things, but this is the one that I would have to appreciate the most--the lesson of being involved with the world and learning about it while I was there. To not take things for granted just because you pass them by. To take advantage of my life as it was. That nothing, no decision or experience or person or belief, is a means to an end, but an end in and of itself.

Thus many of the moments that I will actually remember during my time in Carbondale--moments that I can use to clarify the beauty of its Autumns, the vastness of its possibilities, or the brilliance of its people--will include many moments involving Gaia House-Interfaith Center.

When I speak generally on 'the world,' I must also clarify that 'the world' to me consists of the people around me. I think everyone can come to a sort of agreement that Gaia House-Interfaith Center runs on the basis of its inhabitants and participants. So, if you read what I've already written again, you'll understand that I mean that the collection of people in Gaia House -- that make Gaia House -- have helped me to be more conscientious, mindful, and ultimately growing to be a more fulfilled person.

On February 5th, Gaia House-Interfaith Center held its 'Raise the Roof!' party for students and community members, in an effort to build momentum for their fundraising goals. There are many things that Gaia House-Interfaith Center needs to preserve itself and protect its future. The staff, board members, RSO members, and volunteers are all working hard to accomplish goals related to obtaining those things, and I have no doubt in my mind that Gaia House-Interfaith Center will continue to support ecologically, spiritually, and community minded development in the Carbondale area for years to come. I hope that you, the reader, take a moment to consider the possibilities, and the absolute necessity, of such places anywhere in the world. I hope that you also can honor the momentum of those possibilities that Gaia House-Interfaith Center now has, strengthening the city around it. Please, provide something to help, if you can.

I performed as a member of the Southern Illinois West African Drum Ensemble for that event. I remember realizing, in the middle of a long, meditative Guinea rhythm; that my being there, helping to entertain the people who were giving their support, wasn't either giving to Gaia House my time and energy, nor Gaia House giving me the opportunity to be there and grow as a person. It was both. We were growing together.