One Friday, Two Tracks

As many of you (should) know, I work for Detroit Cristo Rey High School. Having added Computer Technology Instructor to my resume this year, I have joined the faculty in a (very) small way.*

St. Paul of the Cross (Passionist) hosted all of our new students and the majority of faculty and staff for a day-long retreat. It was a retreat for soul, mind and body including Mass, full-participation lecture time, and an outdoor team-building activity course (I never figured out why it was called a "Trust Fall." Shouldn't it be called a "Trust Catch"?). For one of our students, it seemed like it would be a rough, unendurable day. Excuses abounded and rules were pushed all morning long. Vegas gamblers would have placed money on it ending poorly. But the afternoon prayer service convened, and from thereafter the student took on an entire new presence. Leadership roles were filled on the activity course, respect for the faculty and staff crept back in, and legitimate change happened in mere moments. It was a real blessing to experience.

During our three-week training period, I am having to arrive at the school much earlier than my normal office hours, usually riding up to the building around 7:15 or so. My ride to school today was like every other, except for one small blip in the scenery along Vernor Highway. Tucked mostly out of eyesight were three adult males, drinking 40s of their favorite beer. In this part of the city, many adult males are forced to utilize the daily/hourly for-hire office, hoping to earn just a few bucks to get through the day. I see many of the same faces on the curb on my ride to school in the morning when I return home after lunch; in several cases, it is doubtful that they secured any work that day.

As canned as it is, I really wanted to stop and talk to the three guys with the 40s. Granted there was a clear language barrier** and school bus to catch, but my heart truly ached to see that. 

In one day, I saw a life change and an endless cycle. It feels a bit like a win coupled with a heartbreaking loss. Ugh.

*Currently I'm teaching four sections of freshmen/transfer sophomore students during the training period, but once school starts I will be teaching only one section of technology for sophomore students.

**Note to those trying to go unnoticed: do not talk loudly at 7:30 in the morning. Chances are that you will stand out.