My relationship with St. Thomas is remedial. For many years I have come to St. Thomas when dispirited, downtrodden, saturated by hopelessness, and/or pervasively discouraged by the sadness and sorrow experienced by human beings. St. Thomas – in the company of my beloved friends who live here – is my rejuvenator … re-centers me … provides me with the existential revitalization to persevere and continue to ameliorate suffering wherever possible.
In my profession, this systemic process is called “compassion fatigue.” I am a licensed clinical social worker and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor in the beautiful State of Vermont – skiing, maple syrup, and moose! Yet this state of 600,000 people ranks first in the United States (per capita) in adolescent cannabis use, first in male suicides age 18 to 25 and third in child sexual abuse. There is indeed much sorrow to go around. In my professional role as clinical director of an 80-bed inpatient co-occurring addictions treatment facility, I experience my share.
My relationship with St. Thomas – and my friends – continues to be reliable. I am being rejuvenated, re-establishing an emotional “center” and regaining the existential meaning which has sustained my working life for many decades.
But this St. Thomas respite has brought much more. I was privileged to experience – and serve as a participatory volunteer – in the third annual Rotary Sunrise Kids Triathlon presented by the Rotary Club of St. Thomas Sunrise. I fully expected the laughter, joy, and yes, occasional tears which are inevitably manifest when 150 kids from 15 different schools get together for a “competition.” Additionally, I was not surprised that some parents and other observing adults lost sight of the events true purpose, and that post-event contention ensued due to this oversight.
Yet, for me (and I am sure for others), transcendence and transformation occurred. What could be more affirming than experiencing kids developing “character” where humility (thinking of yourself less, rather than thinking less of yourself!) and empathy (the ability to feel the feelings other people are feeling) prevailed? Kids 5-15 years of age celebrating each other, consoling each other, encouraging each other, helping each other. What could be more affirming? What is more essential for “character” than a pervasive communal spirit which transcends the limiting duality of “winner-loser” by embracing the interconnectedness of all people on the “rainbow” spectrum?
Adults embracing kids, kids embracing kids, adults embracing adults. The true spirit of competition, of any competition, is an affirmation of the collective spirit to strive, persevere, and sustain our commonalities, all the while learning to excel, trusting that excellence serves the interests of all.
Just like character, creating and sustaining a sense of community requires commitment and action. It is no coincidence that parenting, character development, and community cohesion are interdependent, with one of its by-products being children with integrity and honor. St. Thomas has clearly gotten ahead of the curve. I look forward to the fourth annual Kids Triathlon.
