There are a few things I learned about walking at night in the woods with boys. One, if they sag, they can’t hike. Watching them waddle and pull up their pants whilst stepping over branches and tall grass was pretty entertaining. Two, don’t be the caboose because it smells bad—they tend to fart and have no shame in their game.
As hard-core as these kids are that I’m working with, they had met their match in the woods at night. The most “gangster” of them all was scared of tree limbs snapping under his shoes and of the cricket mating call. I saw their eyes open to new experiences and true living as they saw a night full of stars and heard the distant bullfrog burping. It was astounding to me how much they enjoyed tramping through the woods and how greatly their temperments changed. They were peaceful and calm for the first time since they arrived which was about 5 days ago.
It is a constant battle for me to see the good and the innocent in these students, but it is there and I’m proud of both myself and them. For them because they are completely out of their comfort zone and are growing emotionally and psychologically whether they see it or not. For me because I have taken the time and energy to search for the good—almost like finding gold in a mine cave or a pearl amongst pigs.
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