What I've Found

I was called this morning and asked about my experience of living at Daybreak. She wanted to know what had drawn me to come here and also what I have found here.

I came to the community first last summer and returned this summer. This year, I will be returning for weekends to work as relief for some of the houses. I have found something here that I have never felt anywhere else.

When I first walked through the door of the house I now live in, I had no idea what to expect. Even now, every morning when I walk down the stairs I have very little idea what to expect. Every day is different and even more incredible.

What I found when I walked through the front door of the house was more than what I had ever expected. I thought I would be coming for a summer job that I would be able to leave at the end of the summer. I was very very wrong. At the end of last summer when I did leave, I cried for two weeks. I missed the relationships I had formed here so much that it stopped me from developing other relationships in my life. When I came back, it was the best day of my life. I cried because I was so happy.

What I have found here are people who are more open than I can ever hope to be in my life. They open their arms and their hearts to all of those who enter into their lives. They call those who live with them to a greater reality in their lives and a greater playfulness. I have found that I am called to a much greater playfulness and also to be more authentic in my life.

I have found that my life is more authentic for living in community. I don't have time to live away from those around when I am having a bad day or when I'm feeling sick. I don't get to live parts of my life that I would prefer to hide in the seclusion I would prefer somedays. My relationships here are a part of the community regardless of how much I would prefer them to be private. The upside of all these things is that I have support when I have off days. When I am mourning, there is always someone there for a hug. There is support for my relationship although that can also be hard.

What I've found are greater gifts than what I could have found anywhere else. I thought I would come and then be able to leave. I was so wrong. There are somedays when I am able to leave. I am always able to come back though.