In Transition

Today's events commenced an hour earlier than yesterday. I definitely felt the effects of this time adjustment; however, I believe the sleep loss is worth much less than the gain that comes with the introduction of new, life-applicable knowledge. At 8:45a.m the group began the trip to Fraternitá Dei Lacia where we met activist Luca. Luca represents the Arrezzo area Caritas organization, which is an activist group that's non governmental and supported by the Catholic Church. Caritas' aim is to put their faith in action by following the examples of the Saints who typified the virtues of charity and service. Luca along with other volunteers apart of Caritas strive to assist those affected by humanitarian crisis by establishing a mutual project with their "refugees" that "teach a man to feed himself for a lifetime, rather than one day" per-say. The goal is to indirectly yet directly instill the Caritas' values and character by nurturing each person wholly, while also giving them freedom to see theirselves. The phrases that I extracted from Luca's definition of the organization are "common task" and "process of influence." To fix a large crisis such as poverty, or to initiate some variation of global reform, it takes a common goal or unified mindset pertaining to what, who, and why their needs to be altered. And the corporate mindset of activist groups ,such as the one previously mentioned, is the reason why they are successful because each volunteer's desire is to better the world. One thing we must also understand is that although reconstruction may have begun, we may not immediately see results, which is why leadership and activism is a "process of influence." It takes time and development.
Following this activism enlightenment, there was the normal second breakfast routine. Today I actually received a true meal rather than a crepe or pastry. Lunch was an admirable experience as the scorching sun was gracious enough to allow seven of my peers and I to dine out on the restaurant patio. From there, we traipsed towards the steps of the San Fransesco Church where I received a review of European history from the 1200s to1564 that I had learned about as a sophomore in high school. This was where Kirk began to paint a historic timeline with words and set the precedents of the style and message the artwork inside the church intends to communicate. This enrichment was really helpful as this gave me a better understand, after the artwork viewing, of the collectivity and interconnectedness of the past and the present religiously(spiritually) and historically. The specific revelation in the art was "the finding and the proving of the true cross." I was taken aback by the beauty, strategy, and how deeply rooted Catholicism and Christianity is integrated into Italian, early-Renaissance art, but how could it not as these religious happenings and miracles of the past prompted these instances to be illustrated and shared. Piero Della Fransesca's art became a vehicle for a reflection. He brought about an individualistic style in comparison to the previously universal approach by incorporating the physical and metaphysical. Art continues to be a conduit in which the viewer is able to channel and relive the emotion captured in a moment that, in reality, lasts forever.