~1500 Miles

Destination: Washington DC

Since my last post a week ago, two separate trips have carried me nearly 1500 miles around the East Coast and upstate New York. All told, I was on the road for more than 24 hours in the span of 7 days, and spent as much time riding shotgun as I did at the helm. The first trip was a three-day odyssey involving school vans, fourteen 8th-grade boys, and the sweltering heat of our nation's capital in the midst of a heat wave. Notwithstanding some justifiable complaints about the climate, and one scary mechanical hiccup that briefly sidelined the lead van on the shoulder of I-95, this year's edition of a Nativity tradition was smooth, memorable, and a great opportunity for me to wrap up my time with a class whom I've taught throughout my time at the school. What most impressed me about the time we spent in Washington DC, from tours of monuments and museums to an afternoon at the zoo and an arcade, was the way in which each student had has own individual experiences and reflections regarding what we saw and did, while the boys as a whole really made this trip a class event, in both senses of the word. Despite the blazing heat, they took time to marvel at the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Though interested in a variety of animals, they toured the zoo as a pack and made sure that everyone could see what they wanted. The days in DC proved a fine prelude to last Friday's graduation ceremony, at which all were duly honored for their achievements at Nativity, and rightfully celebrated and encouraged as they prepare to begin high school in the fall. They've all enrolled in one of three local high schools that have accepted Nativity students for several years, so they'll be among friends and fellow graduated as they undertake the next stage of their scholarly and personal journeys. I'm proud of them, especially those whom I've had to push the hardest over the past two years.

Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Arlington National Cemetery

The day after sending off Nativity's fourteen graduates, I departed for Rochester to celebrate the medical school graduation of a close friend from Dartmouth. My traveling companion, a close friend of the honoree, inspired and entertained me as we shared conversations about scholarly work, literary and cultural interests, and sarcastic remarks about the scenery– whether visually stunning or aesthetically disappointing– along I-90 through Massachusetts and upstate New York. The graduation party, attended by a small number of Dartmouth friends and a large complement of family, honored not only my friend's achievements as a medical students but also her devotion as a family member and friend, her tenacity as a helper and healer, and her often dramatic and always genuine enthusiasm for life. A long journey– we traveled there and back on consecutive days– was well worth it for the opportunity to participate in another brilliant testament to the extraordinary accomplishments and gifts of a truly special person.

Where's the van?

Surrounding the intensity of the events that occurred at the destinations of these voyages, the long hours on the road offered an opportunity to pray, meditate, and dwell on the graces of those days and the lessons of the past academic year, those I've taught and those I've learned. Friendship is a powerful gift, a remarkable motivational force, and a tremendous source of support in both sunshine and shadow. I'm blessed with some wonderful friends, some of whom have been in my life for nearly 11 years, and we're all grateful for our visibly quirky yet undeniably strong network of companionship. I'm aware of how much history can teach us about our society and ourselves, and I see the presence of that truth in my own life much more than I did two years ago. A few of my students recalled a bet I made with them in February when I covered the Civil War and recited the Gettysburg Address from memory; when we reached the Lincoln Memorial, I turned my back to the wall upon which those profound words are inscribed, and watched with subtle joy as their eyes followed the text of the speech that remains happily lodged in my memory. My students and colleagues have taught me that required schoolwork has its place, but the real pedagogical power lies in awakening wonder that becomes concretized in curiosity that leads to reading, writing, and discussions that pursue the objects of one's interests. Although the arc of this progress can be as long as any road I traveled this week, reaching a significant waypoint– like some of the moments I've described above– happily breaks up the journey, and helps to keep one moving forward.

The Gettysburg Address

Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

Please pray for the journeys of all those with whom I've journeyed this year, and accept my prayers and best wishes for your voyages this summer.