Even with the challenges that are present in Chester, there is joy. Today we got to immerse ourselves in that joy with the children from the Chester East Side Summer Camp. We took an outing to the Swarthmore Swim Club.
Situated in a neighborhood of massive stone houses with perfect lawns, you might find it hard to believe you were so close to the broken down streets of Chester if you had not driven the 10 minutes to go from one world to another.
And I have to make a confession: sitting in a chair to warm up from the 68 degree water I saw an elderly couple begin to enter the pool where the Chester kids were playing. They started in and then looking around got back out. I fully expected them to move away and without actually thinking words had resolved myself to the thought that this wasn't right but wasn't so surprising. However they walked over to the stairs that put them in the middle of our noise and splashing and color. Later, trying to describe Fr Dave to one of the boys after he had left by telling where he had been sitting, he asked, "Is he the guy with light skin?" I love the simple honesty of that question. Not that he was white, which would be a different kind of person, not that he wasn't colored, simply that he had lighter colored skin. I thank God for showing me new ways of thinking today at the pool.
After the pool we heard about what kind of things need to be done to reform education--starting with the culture at home, and involving the community of faith--from Charlie Warren a veteran of the 1960s civil rights movement and an advocate for educational reform here in Chester.
Then you will see how bleak downtown Chester looks in the photos in today's gallery. There is a whole volume that could be written about our tour. Suffice it to say that on a Wednesday afternoon, we barely had to be aware of cars and most buildings were vacant.
Tonight the Trinity youths came to join us for a cook out before we all headed for a very lively mini golf excursion. It was very nice to meet and play with them.
On the way to and from we sang (very loudly) songs from Trout Fishing in America and litterally had the van rocking. Our favorite tracks? Alien in My Nose, Are We There Yet, and Big Rig. . . . Oh, there's i, ii, iii, iv, v, vi, vii, viii . . . . you will have to ask when we get back! :p
I am off to evening prayer with the group and then bed at 11.
peace
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