Preserved in Memory

I love amber. I find it to be the most fascinating way to make jewellery and also to preserve history. Perhaps the reason I find it so fascinating is that there are so many times in my life that I want to preserve.

There was a funeral in my community this past week. Incidentally this was also my first week back at work. I will be the first to admit that such an event makes for a long first week in the community. That and the fact that I seem hell bent on driving myself into the ground this summer, but that seems to be a whole different story.

Every year I get to come back to the community that I love so much. The only problem is that every time I come back it is no longer the community I have in my memory is not quite the one that I come back to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the fact that the community has changed. As my new house leader so often says, "Change is good." If there was no change in the community, the community would begin to die. The element of change that comes with acceptance and welcome is one of the best elements of living in community. It is however hard to be changed as a part of the element of change that exists as part of the community.

The beautiful thing about being a part of this community is that even though the community has changed and so have I, I am still welcomed back with open arms and hearts. All those who have come before me, left the community or passed away are all remembered and celebrated in our memories. It is not really the same as being able to preserve the community that I love in amber, but memory works very well.