By Tina Boyles Bailey, CBF field personnel
At the End of May I attended and lead workshops at the Mountain Top youth Retreat for Austrian youth. As I continue to connect deeper in my work here in Europe and in Austria, I was thrilled to be asked to be part of this special weekend. I taught workshops in connecting and loving ourself it felt a bit like coming full circle.
I have been continually working with young people in different ways over the life of my ministry and leading workshops in arts, self-care and trauma for years in Asia and Europe. But this retreat felt like laying down new roots, specifically with youth work in the country where I live.
A reawakening of my own roots of early ministry as a youth minister.
During the workshops, the participants explored movement and imagination as they connected to their bodies and painted masks as a reflection of their true selves. The focus and attention to the process was so inspiring to witness. Throughout the weekend they continued to return to their masks adding details or sometimes changing them completely. This process is opposite to what people may think when it comes to painting masks. It actually helps to shift into a new space.
It takes time to sit look at the mask and reflect on the questions, “Who am I, what is important to me and how do I show up in the word?” When done in safe sacred spaces, exploring these questions in creative ways opens doors for experiences with self-compassion and healing. In the movement workshops ,we explore learning to love our bodies and to see ourselves with grace, gentleness and love, relearning how to play and connect to our own body through guided improvisation exercises. These processes are only two of many options. But central to my work is always the spiritual component of God’s love and creative delight in us as his cherished creations
In the coming weeks I will be doing similar work with performing arts students in Hungary and with youth in Germany. As I approach one year in Europe, many connections are birthing new opportunities, to say I am thrilled would be an understatement. This is sacred work and not something I take for granted. Far too often, we lose joy and the ability to engage our imagination, and nurturing healing in this area must be done in ways that feel safe. Only then can we risk being vulnerable. But how wonderful it is to see what happens when they feel safe to risk!
Connecting and mentoring young people, whether they are interns exploring what is next in life, young artists finding their artistic voice, refugees beginning new lives in new places or Austrian teens on a retreat… this is my passion! I try to just be there for all in whatever way is needed.
This is art as life for me. And I feel so blessed by it all.