The World of Grandpa Don

A Reflection on the Reflections

These teens have found the basic truth of life that many never find. They have found that happiness in life is not found in possessions, fame, or great accomplishments. It is found in family, community and relationships. They found people who had almost no material possessions, certainly none of the conveniences of life that most of us have come to regard as necessities. And yet they found people who took joy in what they did have. I do not say that it is necessary to abandon our possessions and our modern conveniences in order to be happy. Jesus proclaimed that the "Poor in Spirit" are blessed. He was talking about people who are not owned by the obsession to be rich and comfortable. It is not what we have, but who we are ... in our hearts ... that determine our worth and our contentment. It is how we react to successes and to our failures as well as how we treat others that define our character.

The witness accounts and reflections as well as the photos presented here are a testimony to that which has touched the hearts of these teens and their mentors. The intention was to donate a week of their time to help families in need and they accomplished their purpose. But for many of these young people it was a life-altering event. They returned home with a knowledge and wisdom not found in books. We are grateful for their sharing what they have found.

These are the lessons that we hope to pass on to those who follow ... a spirit of selflessness, kindness and genuine love. This was not meant to be a dog-eat-dog world where we think only of our own wants and to hell with everyone else. No one "owes us" anything for it has been said that nothing belongs to us unless it has been given to us. What we have are gifts of God, to be shared so no one is without their legitimate needs.

Sharing one's life lessons is one of the main reasons for this web site. Not only my lessons but those of others, which is why the "Witness" pages have been added. We are all witness to life and as such it is our role to testify to what we have experienced. Just to say "This is what I experienced and  this is my reaction to it", leaving to the readers the option to chose their path is a much better way to influence others than to preach or cajole in an effort to change others to our way of thinking and living.

Andrew's DREAMS reflection, the last on the Reflections of DREAMS page, demonstrates the effect that being part of a group in a noble cause can have on an individual. I feel that Jesus had this very thing in mind when he formed His church. Indeed, I feel that God had it in mind when He created us. It should be our natural state of being.

Andrew also speaks of the possibility that his experience was pre-destined and there I would beg to differ. He, and the others made a choice to participate and only the opportunity to chose was pre-destined. I give him and the others credit for making the choice and he deserves to take the credit. What makes his experience so powerful is the fact that he was with a group of like minded individuals and where such people gather God is with them in a very special way. There is a unification of individual spirits with the Holy Spirit when a group of individuals blend their talents to a common noble purpose. The results can be miraculous and often are.

My prayer is that these young people never loose the miracle of this experience and they carry it with them throughout their lives, wherever it leads them, continuing to chose the noble way, gathering others with them as they go.

My praise and thanks go to those who enabled this project ... the organizers, leaders and people who contributed in any way to make it possible. May God bless them.

Grandpa Don Plefka
05/18/2006