November 2017 – Adam Hartnett

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Crave is an adventure for the spiritually curious, and in November we explored the ways that each of us hasn’t quite fit into the spiritual boxes that exist in our world. It started as we were reflecting on the people, communities and moments that have shaped who we are. For me, I’ve been through quite a few communities of faith in my life. I grew up in a Catholic family, going to Catholic school and attending Mass faithfully every Sunday. Then in middle school I went to a Southern Baptist youth group and attended Sunday school and Sunday service religiously. As I attempted to mold myself into these spiritual boxes, a feeling of discontent persisted. I never really fit. I had a lot of questions; I was quite a bit more femme than the average boy; and the rules and rituals never quite made sense to me.

I have always felt a profound connection with the divine, even through my experiences of not quite fitting into religions. The consistent connection is, after all, what continues to motivate me in the work I get to do in the community. The divine connection has just changed over time, but I hadn’t realized any of this until I was asked to explore my spirituality in Crave. Through this self-discovery, I realized that it isn’t so much the idea of a God that I am discontent with. But, rather, I find great apprehension where philosophy and theology limit my ability to embrace myself or connect fully with folx from diverse backgrounds, that is the point where the religion boxes we have received become irrelevant to me.

It turns out that quite a few of us who are in Crave have come to a similar conclusion. We’ve had many, varied experiences with religion and none of those seemed to be quite relevant. So, we have begun this Crave journey; we are attempting to create this microcosm of a community where all our passions, motivations, beliefs and dreams can converge, however different they are, without one value or belief discounting another. This is the kind of community in which I have learn, I am able to thrive. Each of us come from different backgrounds, but we share a common desire to bring about good in our community. I think we each recognize that while we may have different beliefs, we can agree that to make a real, lasting, positive change in the world we must work together. Isn’t that cool? I think so.

October 2017 – Molli Miller

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http://cravefla.org/october-2017-molli-miller/

What an adventure Crave has been over the last month! The initial group interview was the perfect ice breaker. We were asked simple, humorous questions like, “Dog or cat?” which led into deeper inquiries such as, “If you were stranded on a deserted island, would you make it, and if so, how long?” We also identified our ‘word’ after a little prayer, meditation and learning about the book One Word That Will Change Your Life. The overnight retreat followed with a group brainstorming session where ideas flooded the room defining Crave’s mission. The Enneagram workshop (AMAZING) and dinner followed. At dinner, we broke bread with the board members and met our mentors. We each received a copy the book One Word That Will Change Your Life and a beautiful wooden plaque with our words inscribed on the front. The next morning we did an activity that explored our dreams/visions and identified where each was coming from; the heart, the head, the gut, etc. We also received our copies of The Wayfinder Journal for Journeying and our first assignment. The next meeting took place at the quaint Little Red House. Here we did an activity focusing on what we are most proud of from our past and what we intend to do with our future. This was a powerful experience because it uncovered the delicate balance between self love and loving others. It also allowed us to take our personal assets and combine them to describe what we want Crave to become. We did some weeding out in the garden and meditated on what areas of our personal lives needs pruning. Most recently, we met at the Edyth Bush Institute to discuss funding and networking.  We met experts in the field such as Margaret Linnane, Karen Revels and Ashley Vann. We learned a great deal about telling our stories, giving our case for support and how to network when it comes to nonprofit and philanthropic funding.

The Crave journey over the past month has touched both my personal and work life in remarkable ways! The word I chose, ‘Surrender’, has been moving me ever since I chose it. I have been experiencing moments of sinking into situations and letting the story unfold without getting in the way. The Enneagram workshop facilitated another way of looking at myself and how I tick. It began the process of thinking outside the box as I began to see how my greatest weaknesses could be seen as my greatest strengths and vice versa. Reading One Word That Will Change Your Life showed how setting an intention and meditating on it daily really works! Picking just one word and keeping it simple is so helpful. I personally have a habit of setting the bar too high and putting too many things on my to-do list, which often sets me up to fail or feel overwhelmed. Having one word as an overlying theme for them is a great form meditation which I have transferred over to my surf school. I have the students focus on one thing they really want to work on for that lesson or that week. The “Why Section” of The Wayfinders Journal has really allowed me to dig deep into who I am and where I am heading. The quote at the beginning of The Wayfinders Journal says it all: “Be your compass. Make a map. Trust your feet to find your path. There’s only one person who can show you the way.” This book has really realigned me with trusting my inner guidance and encouraging my students to do the same. Meeting with Margaret, Karen, and Ashley at the Edyth Bush Institute really motivated me work on my case for support and think about how I will tell my story. I am not a nonprofit yet, just a former surfer and classroom teacher who now runs a surf school that facilitates learning environment for children at the beach. I want to make the world a better place one wave at a time. Meeting with the leaders in networking and fundraising at the Edyth Bush Institute inspired and motivated me. It broadened my scope and I have a bigger vision now. I want to help more children with less opportunities to get to the water. I want to facilitate more therapeutic, learning environments for more children though surfing. I hope this has given you a peek into what October has held for Crave and how it is actively shaping me and my business.

Molli Miller
Owner/Operator
M&M Surf School

Bridge the Gap

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There is a gap between where you stand now and what you dream for your future. But how do you get from here to there?  Where is that bridge and how will you know when you’ve found it?

 

Crave

Kelsey always has a smile on her face. There is a light that emanates from her eyes and her words.   Her love for the children and families of her adopted neighborhood, Paramore, is evident.

She has a new idea about how to bring them life changing opportunities. Playground City is different, a little complex, and absolutely brilliant.  With a talented Board, committed volunteers, and a shoe-string budget Kelsey is ready to launch her dream…. big time. And even though she might feel overwhelmed sometimes – especially on the hardest days – she’s not.  There are millennial leaders who Crave a difference in every sector of need, right here in Orlando. They stand on one side of the bridge with big dreams in their heads, hearts, and hands.

Central Florida has become a cornucopia of encouragement for emerging movements that lead to social change. Over the last five years there is new and growing financial and educational support for leaders, like Kelsey, and their dreams.  However, these leaders Crave to make a difference in fundamentally new ways that is disarmingly relational: by facilitating unexpected friendships, making new connections of investment, and leveraging unusual partnerships for the common good.

This intentional relational approach has gotten the attention of one particular traditional institution with history, stability, and deep pockets: the church.  These unaffiliated trail-blazing millennials are leading social change in a way that echoes and replicates another young leader who took a radically relational approach to social change: Jesus of Nazareth.

The church has discovered that God is calling people into leadership beyond their walls, structures, and requirements.  Forward-thinking institutional Christians yearn to walk alongside these young leaders, learn more about their emerging movements, and roll up their sleeves to help their projects and the people they serve.  They’ve realized these young leaders can show them a new path that is covered in familiar soil and grounded in ancient roots.

This “old guard” in traditional institutions (both religious and civic) is looking toward the horizon, with legacy in mind, wondering to whom and how the baton will be passed.  To their credit, they are asking the right questions:

  • Can our values and mission continue in additional, broadening, emerging forms?
  • If so, what would that look like?
  • Who knows how to lead in that space?
  • How do we find and encourage such leadership?

 

@CraveFLA is a bridge that connects the gifts, history, knowledge, and resources of traditional institutions with the innovative, flexible, creative passion of emerging movements.  This “bridge” occurs through an open spiritual community (the why?), intentional intimate mentoring connections (the how?), and strategic professional introductions (expanding the what?).

If you represent an institution with an eye on the horizon, consider crossing the bridge to the future by serving as a Mentor.

If you hold a dream and lead an emerging movement for social change, consider joining us as a Crave Leader – and get ready to receive a baton of grace, guidance, and support.

It’s time to bridge the gap.

It’s time for Crave.