Identity Workshop in Slovakia

From March 5 - 8, 2009 I taught what was called an"Identity Workshop" for young people in their 20's, students and professionals, single and married,

About 60 people from 5 countries attended. Arrangements were well managed as an honest and forthright balance of costs and expenses needed to support the range of logistics required for a successful educational program, promotion, travel, housing, production, archiving, and publicity.

The workshop proper was comprised of 4 "blocks" of 3 hours each, designed to address matters of identity, spiritual growth, and daily life for the individual, family and community.

Part of the program included small group breakout sessions and reports.

This community of young people are remarkable in their incisive and complex reflection on the development of a socially conscious identity grounded in virtues and principle as the basis for self, family, and the construction of a just and prosperous society.

Here are a few pictures of the workshop:

Holiday and Birthdays

As friends know, our entire family celebrates each of our birthdays between December 7 (Tanja) and January 17 (Marissa), and the rest of us in between. (Might as well throw in Christmas and New Year's in there as long as you're running around town going broke.)

Kids came home for the holidays.

Here are a handful of shots of some of our times together:

Christmas Day 2008

On Christmas day our family enjoyed a study of Jesus' birth (from Matthew), prayers, and some simple gifts.

In the daytime we went to spend an abundant meal and fellowship with Georgette victor and some of her family and neighbors

Here are some pictures of Christmas day:

My Birthday 2008

In the daytime, my assistant Kanae San, together with our work colleague Keiko San, prepared for me a tea ceremony.

In the evening my kids prepared a birthday dinner (Lasagna), Hiroko's cake, and some gifts afterward.

Here are some pictures from that day:

Isael, December 17 - 13, 2008

I was in Israel on business at this end of the year. It turns out I experienced a great many profound and meaningful experiences, including a great many from the historical and spiritual figures of the area.

Here are some pictures from this visit:

Thanksgiving 2008

This year Marissa returned home from her STF travels, Frank Alipini a visiting scholar from Benin joined us, and Hiroko (above all) and Tanja cooked and put together a magnificent meal for all of us.

Here are a couple of shots from our day together:

London

These pictures and report in part show scenes from my professional activity and responsibilities. But they also touch upon time in which I was able to enjoy the beauty of London

The first three pictures in this slide show are from an orientation session with religious leaders as we prepared for the Ceremony for merging sacred waters, a part of the festival on the following day.

The next picture is with Julius Alexy with whom I collaborate for youth education in Europe. After that comes a picture of a steeple shot out of a bus en route to the convention center.

Three pictures are of a swan in the rivulet that flows beside London's Excel Center. Two pictures are with Maya and her mom (with whom I had the pleasure to meet and stay with throughout the festival).

The four most important pictures are from the sacred waters ceremony, and the final 4 are the young people celebrating during the music at the GPF.



For any interested, here is a video of the entire sacred waters ceremony, narrated by Mr. David Hannah: