The Butterfly's Cocoon: And So We Go

My journey to being an intern at South Street Ministries has been nothing but ordinary in my opinion. Here is an account of how I was introduced to South Street, and the journey that blossomed from there.

It was about a year ago that I hopped in the car with my dad and headed to South Street Ministries. His workplace, Kaiser Permanente was doing a day of service, and they were volunteering at this non-profit in the city of Akron. I had been recruited to take photos for the day, which I was ecstatic about. The group was building a fence around one of the local Urban Gardens that South Street created to give color and life to the city block and also to be used as an educational tool for the kids.

I was entranced by this place. There was an authenticity about the people that I wanted to know more about. They radiated love through action, and I found myself desperate to love the way they loved. What drove them? How could they be so countercultural? Although they didn’t need any more volunteers for the summer, I found out that they could use a marketing video. With that, I was in, able to get into the depths of the non-profit (as it was needed for filming purposes).

They loved Jesus Christ. It was clear that they authentically believed that Jesus is the Ultimate Truth, and that their compassionate love stemmed from this realization. As a Christ follower myself, I was astounded to find a group of people who passionately pursued Christ and held one another accountable. The discipleship they showed me opened my eyes to an entire new way of living.

* * *

As the summer ended, I returned to Bowling Green and slowly school became a dominant aspect of my life. Soon I began thinking about the summer of 2013 and what my options were in that regard. That summer I had interned at Fraley Memory Productions as a wedding videographer. The summer before I had stayed at home in Akron. One thing I knew—I did NOT want to go back to Akron for the summer of 2013. Going home was the last place I wanted to be for the summer, as thought it would be time for me to stretch myself and live and work independently.

I found this wonderful non-profit in Toledo called Cherry Street Mission Ministries and I all at once knew that’s where I would be for the summer. I went to a Service Fair on BGSU’s campus and met a woman who worked there and we cried together as we talked of compassion in action. She gave me her business card and I gave her my tears. In her I found a like-minded individual who inspired me to continue chasing Jesus, the ultimate example of compassion in action. It was at Cherry Street that I would spend my summer months.

* * *

I remember the day clearly that those summer plans changed. It was the middle of October; Fall Break on BGSU’s campus had just started. I was driving home back to Akron, talking to God about the summer and my concerns and worries. I didn’t know how Cherry Street was going to work out, and if I was going to get a place in Toledo or commute from Bowling Green, and I just wasn’t sure. The last week I had gotten a bad feeling in my stomach about Cherry Street for the summer, and so I finally was bringing my concerns to the transcendent God of the universe. My ultimate goal for the summer of 2013 was to serve Him and learn more about His character. I remember blubbering about my worries and concerns about the summer and Cherry Street and Toledo and interning and and and when out of nowhere, I clearly felt this resonate through my being—

“South Street.”

All at once, so many pieces clicked for me and I burst into tears (which I wouldn’t recommend when driving down the highway). I didn’t want to go to South Street. It would mean living at home (which I was so clearly trying to avoid). It would mean being a part of a place I had already explored (which would mean less adventure). It would mean that Cherry Street was a no-go (which would mean a surrendering of my summer plans). This plan made no logical sense. I would have to not apply to the internship of Cherry Street and trust that South Street would NOT ONLY have an internship, but the staff would also want to have ME as an intern. They knew my weaknesses. They knew my naitivity about city life. It didn’t make any sense for me to be at South Street Ministries for the summer. There was no security that the internship would actually happen.

Yet as I was driving down the highway at 70mph, tears running down my cheeks, I knew that this is what the Lord was asking of me. Asking me to have faith and to TRUST. Asking that I would trust Him to work things out, that His plan is bigger and way better than my plans of Cherry Street. Asking that I would risk living at home and surrender my plans for Him. As a person who loves control, this was a lot to ask, and yet I knew deep down that this is the way it was to be.

“Okay,” I whispered, surrendering my plans and control and sitting raw before Him.

Peace enveloped me, yet tears still fell. The path chosen made no logical sense, yet the bad feeling in my stomach was gone, and on I drove.

· * * *

It was December when I finally inquired about a possible internship. I sat across from the Executive Director with my letters and resumes and everything in hand. Upon asking about a possible internship, the quick reply was, “Sure! We’d love to have you! I think you’d make a great addition this summer. I’ll have to check with everyone else, but it seems good to me!” Stunned, I could only stare. We talked for a few more minutes about the internship, but I still couldn’t believe that it was that easy. By the end of the meeting, I left half-convinced at the good news, being sure to give him my resume and letter of intent in case he changed his mind and wanted to interview me.

Lesson: God had this plan in the palm of His hand. Although I had given my summer plans to him that afternoon in October, I clearly wasn’t prepared for the clarity and cleanliness of the follow through. God writes good stories, friends.

* * *

There have been many adventures and lessons since that day I was confirmed as an intern for South Street Ministries this summer. One lesson that I have learned is the difference between approaching this summer as a way to “help” the people who live around South Street Ministries, and approaching this summer as a way to “grow” alongside the people living around South Street Ministries. The “helping complex” has manifested itself in subtle and not so subtle ways—from writing a paper on inner city summer camps to becoming prideful about the opportunity I have through this internship to learn about many different people groups. I am not proud of this “helping complex,” yet to dismiss it wouldn’t be honest. When pride runs rampant, I am reminded that I am nothing but dust, that we are all dust, and to dust I will return.

As I begin this internship tomorrow, I can't help but think of the journey up to this point. The way the pieces so beautifully fit together, the seemingly constant change in plans (up until recently), the shifts in global and local perspective and the realization of the great privilege it will be to work at South Street. I'm so excited to help with the summer camp for the kids on South Street and the surrounding streets. I'm excited to get to know the kids in the area. I'm excited to be enthusiastic and joyful daily. But most of all, I'm excited to learn other people's stories, and to tell my own.

What a blessing this summer will be; what an adventure!

Grateful. So grateful.

Journey with me this summer?