For the past few years, I’ve written prodigiously for a few months and then become absent for a few months. Settled now in California, the universe has begun to speak to me again; urging me to write. The fall semester is coming to a close. Currently, I’m finishing up a week with kids at Exploring New Horizons an outdoor school in Loma Mar, California. This is the last week before the winter break.

Working here in Loma Mar has been a needed reprieve from my life in Seattle. I’ve been surrounded by beautiful creative people and as the medic, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to take care of middle schoolers who attend the outdoor school. Each week I wear a furry fox hat and introduce myself as Redfox. I get to talk about what kids should do if they are sick or hurt and about where I “live” in the Health Habitat. Students also come by to see me on their free time just to say hi and write me messages on the white board in front of my office.

Over the past few months I’ve had the chance to be silly and laugh a lot. I’ve regularly attended Quaker Meeting for Worship at a meeting that surprises me every Sunday. I’ve found time to explore personal interests, catch up with a few friends through letter writing, and drink in the beauty of the Redwood forest that surrounds me.

In this space of sometimes silence and often screaming children, I’ve nestled down into a space of contemplation. Questions arise in this place. Questions about what is next for me. Questions about Quakersim; about peacebuilding; about education; about the world… I am reminded that I come from a culture of questioning and in those questions I am home. And in this blog, those questions may emerge.