Talking with William Penn

As I've been reading about the formation of Philadelphia, I am becoming more and more fascinated by William Penn. What I know of him thus far is just two simple paragraphs in my two travel books from the library, but the subtext tells a story that I am so intrigued to know more about.


What I do know, from reading, is that Philadelphia was given by the King of England to William Penn through a charter (I'm unsure what that means). One of William Penn's first initiatives as a Quaker who lived by non-violence, was to reach out to the Delawares (the Native tribe in the area) and reach an agreement. I read in another book that the tribe leaders sold the land to Penn; both parties were pacifists. Treaties with the Native Americans were formed, and there were enduring friendships. This is so so radical to me. There was communication between these two radically different cultures.


I find myself wanting to sit down with William Penn and ask him about this experience. Heck, I even want to sit down with the Delaware tribe and ask them about this experience.


Delawares, William Penn, how did you do it? How were you able to communicate and work out conflict towards peace in the midst of such large cultural differences? How did you trust one another? What was your respect for one another based upon? Did you have respect for one another or was it your commitment to peace what was able to help you communicate? When did this peace break down? Was that difficult? How did you navigate that conflict, Delawares? And William Penn, why did you move back to England?


In essence, what I find myself asking is this: How were these two people groups able to respectfully communicate with one another in pursuit of a larger goal--peace? (And what IS peace?)

Service Site: Philadelphia

"As a Mission Year team member, you will spend four days a week volunteering with a local community organization. Your aim is to serve the organization where you’re working, encourage your co-workers, and serve the people there to the best of their ability. Mission Year has partner organizations in the neighborhoods that have invited us to join their mission. Community leaders guide team members as they recognize issues of justice that affect their neighbors and learn creative solutions from seasoned experts." www.missionyear.org

*  *  *

Today, I found out my local community organization. I will be serving at the People's Emergency Center in West Philadelphia. According to their website:

"The People’s Emergency Center’s mission is to nurture families, strengthen neighborhoods and drive change in West Philadelphia. Through a community of more than 240 housing units and five educational centers offering job training, parenting and early childhood education, financial education and planning, lifeskills and technology coursework, PEC seeks to change the life trajectory for the women and children who seek its services and inspire them to aspire to new heights. PEC community development programs respond to community needs and build on neighborhood assets to help bridge the digital divide, expand mixed-income housing opportunities, stimulate economic growth, create wealth, and improve the quality of life for all West Philadelphia residents."

Where I will be specifically is in the PEC's Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology. I will be assisting in various classes and programs, and doing some administrative work for the DI department. 

Of the many unknowns going into Mission Year, not knowing my service site has been of little concern to me (mainly because I realized I had no control over that matter). I'm eager to step into the rhythms of PEC, and my hope is that my presence is encouraging to them organizationally and individually. I am excited, though, and a little surprised, at this placement. Of all the volunteer ideas I had crafted, working with people and technology was not one of them at all.

What is interesting to me is how my middle class worldview is so intertwined with my surprise. When I read the email that stated that "the Digital Inclusion department works to help bridge the digital divide that is become so apparent in regards to socio-economic class within the city," I found myself not understanding. 

What is the issue that this department is working towards developing? What is the digital divide? How does/did technology affect the opportunities I have? How does/did knowing how to use technology affect the opportunities I have? How does/did knowing people who know how to use technology (and have technology) affect the opportunities I have? Is technology really that important?

It's fascinating to me that I can't even dive into these questions because I don't understand the issue. I'm eager to walk into this department full time, and listen to why this digital divide exists and why it's an issue to the community I'll be living in. I'm eager to step into whatever role they place me in, and I'm eager to learn more about their hopes and expectations for me as a small part of their organization for a season.

If you'd like to read more about the Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology and the programs that they offer, you can click here!

 

Untitled (and Uncomfortable)

Fifteen minutes after I read the email that shared with me my official service site for the year in Philadelphia, I stood up from my computer and began to giggle. I quickly walked to the living room to share the news with my Dad.

“Dad! I found out my service site for Mission Year. I’m going to be working at the People’s Emergency Center in their Center for Digital Inclusion and Technology.”

By the time I reached the word “Technology” the giggles within me bubbled into full out laughter.

I proceeded to tell Dad how I’m going to be assisting in the classes given by the CDIT and will also be doing some administrative work. Throughout all of this—giggles.

Sometimes the only reaction I have is laughter. Sheer, doubled over laughter.

“I FEEL SO UNCOMFORTABLE.” I screeched to my Dad as I doubled over laughing.

*  *  *

I’ve been reflecting on some words written in an email from my City Director “By doing Mission Year you have (whether you realize this or not) given up this idea of control—you've put following Jesus before everything else...before all of the details, before all of the attachments, before all of your desires. You've made Jesus your desire. Trust that and lean into that in these last few weeks of preparation.”

I read these words and looked up from my computer, “OH. That…well…that explains a lot, actually.”

This summer has felt like an intense wrestling match with God, where I’ve been holding a fistful of balloons that were never actually my responsibility to hold in the first place. The whole summer has been snipping these balloons painfully and individually, letting them free and opening myself to trust the One who walks with me through it all and is committed to me.

Trust isn’t comfortable for me at all. I would rather have control of situations and know exactly how to react to someone and how they’re going to react to me. I would rather know exactly how to assist someone in a computer class than go in knowing I’ll make mistakes. I would rather be super culturally competent so that when I live in a multi-cultural environment I will be able to navigate social situations perfectly and not hurt anyone. I would rather know exactly how to follow Jesus and live for Him rather than trust Him and live through Him.

Just reading that last paragraph exhausts me. I can’t live that way. I never could and I never will.

My whole live I’ve striven to live perfectly, but from now on out I’m choosing to live honestly.

I’m uncomfortable for a lot of the dynamics that Mission Year is presenting me, and they’re not even my realities yet. I’m uncomfortable at the thought of having people know my imperfections and insecurities and hurts, but I’m excited that together we can encourage and challenge one another and work through conflict that will inevitably happen. I’m uncomfortable that being in a multicultural and multi-socioeconomic environment will bring my biases to a stark forefront, but I’m excited to listen to stories and empathize. 

I’m uncomfortable. So so beautifully and mysteriously uncomfortable.

(But I’m still choosing to release my anxieties and recklessly move towards You, even in this.)

 

I’m walking day by day with you and trusting what You say is true.

Your sovereignty transcends my anxiety; You are the Truth.

I’m thirsty for You, God, thirsty for You.

So I’m walking day by day with You and trusting what You say is true.