My JOURNEY & testimony
Until 2018, I believed I knew best how my skills would be utilized to help others, resolve problems, and how that might look in terms of my career even though multiple years had begun to lack peaks and become filled with continued challenges and seemingly endless valleys. I lived in the home built by namesakes' that had offered me safe harbor and a sense of stability at every critical point in my life. I strove to become the most highly competent, well-trained, and respected educator and servant leader I could be. I remained on the path that I set forth for myself. I walked until I had to be carried. Sometimes we need to remember to humble ourselves, take our surroundings into account and allow our course to be recalculated.
Since 2019, while serving families through funeral ministry, continuing to address and face the changes created by the loss of friends and family, and examining my own journey while traveling new roads (thankful for lots of new friends, great servicemen and women, great schools, and again, LOTS of MILES of beautiful roads), and catering my way through life with great people - I navigated my way back home. I left this Hollow more than once as a child and young adult due to danger, fear, and darkness. I understand youth that struggle with the anxiety that a happily ever after, let alone a future has been written for them... I can almost hear the dark, hovering voices of defeat that whisper telling them it's okay to write their own short ending; my being gets it. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 Navigating and escaping those valleys helped me "see, hear, and love" others. I believe there is purposefulness that has been bestowed upon me as an encourager. Returning to the Hollow brought blessings and challenges; the journey brought me full circle and to quote Jelly Roll, "I'm alright with what's wrong with me."
Through tears, God's powerful persuasion, and the decision to trust that He will make a way and grow this, well, beyond me or my abilities alone. Unlike the path I had envisioned, this venture could allow me and others to help untold numbers to find peace, beauty, and joy in, not only this world but as they prepare for the next or as they memorialize loved ones. My desire is to help establish a culture where people LIVE this LIFE to the fullest and desire to learn and experience something new every day. Hopefully finding peace, joy, laughter, and love within their faith, among members of the community, amidst the crazy, wonderful animals of this earth, or out among nature's beauty. God's grace and mercy visited me through all of those in my youth: faith, community, animals, and nature. I am at a humbled point in life, admitting I can't do this on my own and living in the spaces where darkness once reigned, yet I have never felt more freedom and clarity of purpose.
I've begun to introduce the concepts of Meadow and Sky Nature Park as well as Meadow and Sky Green Burial Park... But what do they entail? How can you invest in a SEED INVESTMENT PACKET that will allow you to journey alongside me during this inaugural year? I've shared my personal testimony and my change of course. Please continue reading to better understand the bigger picture, the actionable steps, and the benefits I believe can be garnered by further investing in, revitalizing, developing, and conserving valuable resources that have sustained generations cradle to grave in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, I reminisce on my pledge from 4-H, "I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to greater service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."