Thoughts from our Summer Intern
Mara Harrington was Renovare’s intern this summer for the second year in a row. It has been a delight to have her as part of the team these past couple of months!
When Renovare starts a new group of students at a prison, they often do what they call a “rhythm circle.” This is a way for all participants to make music together without any prior knowledge or skill. It starts with a common beat or pulse that everyone taps with their feet. Then, one by one, each member of the circle claps their own individual rhythm until everyone is clapping a unique rhythm while tapping the central beat with their feet. When everyone claps together, it makes what is called a “composite rhythm” - the rhythm that is formed by the sum of the individual rhythms together. In many ways, this is similar to what I saw throughout my internship this summer. I had many small experiences and conversations that formed a larger rhythm of my summer. The lessons I learned this summer were far subtler than last year, and I often took them for granted. Looking back, though, I can see how they form a unique calling to community in my own life as a participant in the composite rhythm of the body of Christ.
One part of the Renovare world that I was delighted to experience was meeting those who attend the different events that Renovare performs. Throughout the concerts I attended, there was always at least one new person I got to meet and learn about. I was so inspired by the variety of backgrounds that gathered at each event and inspired by watching faith in action. It is difficult to face the ugly parts of the world head-on, but it certainly helps to know that there is a wide community of faithful people seeking to work together to love God and to love their neighbor. Each person I had the privilege to learn from and converse with taught me to lift my eyes and open my ears to how faithful, ordinary people are bringing the Kingdom of God to Cleveland. It is easy to see the brokenness of this city. The joy of being a follower of Christ is that it is also often easier than one would expect to see God and His beauty amidst the brokenness, if you are seeking them.
As I learned from different supporters and communities, I grew to understand the importance and beauty of being directly involved in the community you live in. Whether behind bars or in Buckeye-Woodhill, I met many who were seeking to create spaces of unity and change. All the lessons and conversations formed a larger composite rhythm and showed me that I am called to live in community as a contributor and intercessor. As a student who goes to a school out of state, it is easy for me to take from the communities I live in and to feel free to not become attached to one place or the other. This internship has helped me to learn how to live boldly and love deeply no matter where I am. Getting involved in community requires acknowledgement of hardship and broken relationships. It also involves advocacy and coming in with eyes wide open to where God is present and working. Living in this way has brought more joy, a deeper love of the Father, and deeper purpose than I had ever known. I would not have chosen this but God, who has the best for me in His grace, taught me in the most gentle way that there is more to life than the way I have been living it.
As I look forward to a new semester, I eagerly await the ways that I can become more involved in the community that I have been gifted for this season. I am inspired to listen more often and more deeply. To boldly seek others above myself despite the transient nature of these college years. And to open my eyes wide to see where God is already at work. My prayer is that I would no longer walk in a composite rhythm of individualism and ignorance but one of Christlike community with others.