Members Greg Bogoshian Posted September 20, 2004 Members Posted September 20, 2004 I got back from the prison REC (A kind fo retreat where our volunteer team spends an entire weekend with them in prison trying to lift them spiritually... *not* a bible-thumping exercise... and give them some tools to achieve peace and happiness and fulfillment both inside and eventually outside the prison walls) about 9:30 last night. I'll only say it was the most fulfilling and emotional yet. I am completely spent and somehow I have to function at work today. As an added elation to the weekend, my wife and I got to see my nephew and his new bride at their reception late Saturday night after the first day since it was literally in the "back yard" of the flop-house we in the team stayed at in Perkinsville, NY (we in the REC team had no drinking water, heat, or hot water to shower with... just old matresses on wooden frames) and they weren't pissed off with us for sticking to our convictions by being on the REC. They were brought to tears as we told them of the prayer requests from the inmates brought up during the mass at the same time as their wedding ceremony. On top of that, my sister-in-law's son came up to me at the reception (a really teriffic young man who has a bit of a goth look about him but is as gentle as it gets... We have connected over the years for some reason and he is like a son to me and it is reciprocal) and told me of a conversation we had a while back where I described to him another way of thinking of Algebra as we were discussing one-on-one how his life and school were going. He has a learning disability and has struggled mightily throughout school. He looks for all the world a lot like a young Frank Zappa. Anyway, to make a long story short (or at least less long), he said of all the teachers he had and all of the tutors he has tried and all of the struggles he had with math related subjects, that 5 or 10 minute conversation he had with me got him to completely understand the concept! He got it!! He went from struggling just to go for a GED to now enrolled in college!!! You can see the change in his posture and in his personal confidence even since the last time I saw him!!! He never would dance when we were out with family or whatever, but you couldn't get him off of the dance floor at the reception... It was just AWESOME!!! I really love this kid and to have been given the opportunity to have this kind of an impact on his life... and learn about it on this kind of spiritual weekend was almost too much to bear! We need a smiley with a smile and tears... I made so many "connects" while with the inmates as well that it was simply overwhelming... I wish you could all experience what I was so blessed to experience this past weekend... It is almost too much to comprehend. I am spent. And elated. And grateful. And feel I have had a purpose for being here. And fulfilled... Now, I have to figure out how to get back to work and remain upright... Whew... Boggs
Members LittleBrother Posted September 20, 2004 Members Posted September 20, 2004 You give off a lot of good vibes Greg and you are doing good things. Keep up the great work. I'm just proud to follow your stories and adventures. Doug
Members Greg Bogoshian Posted September 20, 2004 Author Members Posted September 20, 2004 Thanks, Doug... My life sure has shaped itself into an adventure... Great description!
Members rh2d Posted September 21, 2004 Members Posted September 21, 2004 Thanks for you work Greg, it is needed.
Members seven7 Posted September 21, 2004 Members Posted September 21, 2004 greg, that is great! keep it up my friend. thanks for sharing.
Members Greg Bogoshian Posted September 22, 2004 Author Members Posted September 22, 2004 Thanks, guys, but no thanks are necessary. We get so much back from the men we serve that it almost makes us feel guilty. My hope in telling you the story is that you become inspired to do something for someone else in your own way that can change their life for the better as there is no better feeling to have. Every individual has the power within themselves to change their piece of the world by the simplest of acts. You just never know what little courtesy you present will change someone's attitude that minute or that day and that could have a profound affect on everyone around them. The world today is too screwed up to not want to make a change, I would think. I have simply told you of one way. It doesn't have to be that elaborate. Just do something nice and feel the joy that comes from it! I'll get off of my soapbox now. Back to our regularly scheduled programming! Boggs
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