Last Saturday, our Vestry gathered for an annual Retreat Day. Bishop Mary Glasspool joined us to lead our morning program, and as an ice-breaker exercise she asked us to create our own version of a poem titled “Where I’m From.” Everyone filled in blanks in a “mad-libs” type template with details from their own experiences, and we read our offerings aloud. It was wonderful to learn new things about one another. There were benefits in figuring out how to fill in the blanks, too—each of us was asked to think about specific details that serve as windows into how each of us has been formed.
Here is a link to the original poem.
And here is the template Bishop Mary gave to us:
I am from _____________ (specific ordinary item), from ______________ (product name) and _____________.
I am from the _____________________ (home description…adjective, adjective, sensory detail).
I am from the ___________________ (plant, flower, natural item), the ____________________ (plant, flower, natural detail).
I am from ___________________ (family tradition) and _______________ (family trait), from _______________ (name of family member) and _______________ (another family name) and ________________________ (family name).
I am from the ___________________ (description of family tendency) and ______________________ (another one).
From _______________________ (something you were told as a child) and ___________________________ (another).
I am from ________________________________ (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.
I’m from ____________________________ (place of birth and family ancestry), ________________________ (two food items representing your family).
From the ___________________ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the ______________________ (another detail), and the _______________ (another detail and another family member).
I am from _________________________________ (location n of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth.
If you have the time and the Spirit moves, I recommend considering this template. It is thought-provoking and lead to memories that can be surprising. And if you want to share what you wrote at any point, I would love to know more about what this exercise has inspired in you!
Blessings,
