In the beginning, there was food. A late start to
the day gave Gannon’s Detroiters ample time to pursue a culinary refueling by
way of a spread of fruits, cereals, and Leah’s most expertly prepared oatmeal
which surpassed even the profound quality of the previous day’s delightful
breakfast meal. This was to be just a foretaste of the glorious smorgasbords to
come as the events of the day unfolded.
The first stop on our city-wide trek which would
come to span a variety of institutions and cultures was a rising star in the
Motor City: On the Rise Bakery. This altruistic enterprise, in a spirit of
inspiring compassion toward the less fortunate, seeks to employ men who, for
one reason or another, can only improve their standing in life by way of the
precious gift of a second chance. This kind-hearted venture performs the
charitable works it does on a basis of need rather than merit, giving generously
to those whom society tends to cast aside in favor of more desirable
candidates. We, students of solidarity, moved by all that we saw, especially
the community outreach that has grown to surround and protect the downtrodden
of Detroit, consummated the experience with a superbly prepared lunch produced
by the very same establishment; it exceeded our dining expectations in ways as
pleasant as they were unlooked-for (even if Juan is too harsh of a critic of
the humble art of the cheesecake).
With the troops refreshed and rejuvenated, the
centerpiece of our journey took shape in the midst of a cultural encounter
facilitated by the National Arab American Museum. Here we found a marriage of a
rich heritage unpacked and painful wounds laid bare as we explored exhibits
illustrating issues such as immigration and discrimination alongside
presentations of historical artifacts and expositions which were both
thought-provoking and heart-wrenching alike.
As if God Himself wanted to affirm the value and
relevance of the new culture we had just shared in, our departure from the
museum gift shop was followed by our partaking in the bounty of Middle Eastern
cuisine. We proceeded to wade into a veritable field of succulent succor for
hungry mouths as we were introduced to a meal of unrivaled magnitude in its delectableness.
This refulgent supper was received with an enthusiasm which demonstrated the
appetite of a people more than ready to embrace diversity at the table of
plenty. Mountains of savor were scaled by dinnertime adventurers while waves of
flavor buffeted once-weary travelers with a revitalizing energy few foods could
provide. Needless to say, we all left this experience with a greater
appreciation for the finer points of Middle Eastern food and palates reborn in
the crucible of outstanding nutrition.
We wound down with a reflection which furthered as
well as made evident the fruitfulness of our remarkable camaraderie, which was
revealed and reaffirmed in a variety of ways, not the least of which being a
crash course in Kurdish dance. There was no shortage of food this day, but even
more than meals, we basked in an abundance of brilliant joy. As we progress
into the eventide and prepare for a new day in Michigan, know that we keep you
all in our thoughts and prayers.
With love from Detroit,
Detroit ABST 2016
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