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A caterpillar is nothing like a butterfly
but one develops from the other.
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I sat in a circle of YMCA Hostel Residents.
We talked about the potential in a caterpillar
and shared our collective wisdom...........
It was late night.
They had a free choice to join me.
I had pushed an invitation
under each bedroom door.
A dozen out of 100 joined me.
We talked potential .....
An acorn is the soul of an oak tree.
An acorn has the potential
to become an oak tree.
So we talked about the things
which can stop that acorn
developing into its full potential.
Crushed by a boot,
no moisture,
damaged in the fall,
landing on concrete,
poor environment,
uprooted or
eaten in early life ...
..and more.
And then the application to ourselves,
the human soul and
the potential to become
a fully alive human person.
What can hinder that development .....
" the glory of God is a person fully alive"
Everyone in that group,
including me,
shared the reality of their own 'damage'
during the development process in life.
The emotions ran high
as we shared and took ownership of real hurt
and also the equipping for life
that this sometimes gave.
The purpose of the YMCA is NOT to provide:-
beds
meals
gyms
fitness classes
child care
training
sporting opportunities .....
.....and more.
All these we do, and are leaders in the field,
but these are the means
to achieving our Aims and Purposes,
and to provide
developmental opportunities for all.
Those acorns into oak trees,
those caterpillars into butterfly's.
We are about whole person development.
That is what makes the YMCA distinctive.
That is what we mean by
putting Christian principles into practice.
"An empty belly has no ears"
quote an African Proverb.
So many people
who dip their needy toes into a YMCA
are at the bottom of the social pile.
They arrive at a YMCA
because they are welcomed
at their point of need.
They are NOT to be oppressed.
They are NOT to be preached at, ..
...those empty bellies are there to be filled
and ears to receive valuing comments,
affirmation blessings, authentic love,.......
the environment needs to be right
to facilitate the acorn
and the human person to grow.
A part of that journey is the experience
of 'belonging',
a sense of 'security',
the experience of 'self esteem',
cognitive and aesthetic needs.
All these, according to Maslow and
his famous hierarchical model,
culminate in self actualisation.
That is what we aim for,
the height of spiritual/ wholistic/fully human person state.
A model crisp and clear to Bible fans everywhere ....
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with God and man."
(Luke 2:52)
So the YMCA aims for the highest,
and
as all us leaders know to well,
it is the great journey
and
destination
we ourselves desire to achieve.
Martin Luther King did NOT say
"I have a budget"
Martin Luther King did say
"I have a dream"
I have a vision!
I have a mission! ......
....... and we in the YMCA
are about that same mission.
bhp
pipwilson.com
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