Gwyn Powell: Reflections from Jerusalem Farm

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   Today was insanely hot. I felt like I wanted to give up about 800 times but I managed to push through every time. I kept thinking about who we were helping and why. In all honesty, doing something for someone else's sake is a heck of a lot easier than doing something for myself-at least in the present time.

In situations like these, maybe the motivator could be boiled down to a simple risk of shame or fear of disappointment, but I would like to believe it's the simple human kindness alive in my heart. In all honesty, being here can be incredibly hard. It's hard labor, learning new skills, and being uncomfortable with new routines. Physically at times. Emotionally at times. It's a place and experience that forces you into awakening and creating discomfort surrounding the luxury of our lifestyle, no matter how mundane you may consider your life to be. I always leave with a refreshed sense of place in the world alongside the people in it. This place is truly special. While I live not too far away from Jerusalem Farm, I feel as if I live a world away.

I take this opportunity at Jerusalem Farm as one of self and community discovery, one that I plan to continue on with in the future.

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