“All true
friendliness begins with fire and food and drink and the recognition of rain or
frost. ...each human soul has in a sense to enact for itself the gigantic
humility of the incarnation. Every man must descend into the flesh to meet
mankind.” – G.K Chesterson
Whether it’s your first day at school, work or even a day
out with your friends, it is guaranteed that you will be meeting new people and
facing new challenges. Perhaps that is intimidating for many, and this is
natural. Despite being told many times that there was nothing to worry
about, I was apprehensive about attending the OSBM Youth Meeting for the first time. There were many things on my mind in the lead up
to the meeting. What would the members think of me? Will I do something that will cause them to think badly of me? These
questions were duly answered throughout the duration of the Youth Wing meeting.
On the 11th October 2014, I attended the meeting as a newcomer to the charity and its aims. I was anxious even before I stepped
into the room, especially because the thought of
meeting various new faces was daunting - as I expected to be alienated
completely. I have met several of the youth members before, so I felt reassured as I knew that it will make it easier for me to interact with the whole group.
When I entered the room, there was a calm atmosphere. The
green uniform was stunning and soft to the eye, laughter rang across the room
as the members poured in. During the course of the meeting, there was an unusual
sense of unity and harmony in the group. There were no squabbles and every opinion was valued. What struck me the most was the amount of participation from the students in the meeting. The meeting was mainly student led with responsibilities given to students to contribute and present to the group, allowing a stretch of
freedom and an emphasis on student judgment.
The ages of the youth members differed but this didn’t
change their value for each other. The youth members treated others not as
friends, but as family. As a newcomer, I could sense that the OSBM Youth Wing
were an inseparable unit, who constantly cared and respected one another. The OSBM Youth Wing capitalises on spirituality, and it was evident that
this element was deeply rooted in each member, as their breathtaking
knowledge was visible from the spiritual game we played in which we answered spiritual questions.
As it was Swami’s birthday, we blew up balloons and
decorated the room with them, which was fun and also helped me co-operate with existing members. They were easy to talk to, and gladly aided me when I required help or was unsure about something. Food was brought in by several members and
was distributed throughout the break session after two group presentations and tasted excellent.
Overall, the monthly meeting helped me understand not only
the charity itself, but also the manner in which the members work, through
co-operation and unity. All the members were friendly and I made new friends
who helped me adapt to the atmosphere and therefore, it was definitely an enjoyable
morning!
 |
| Swami's birthday cake |
