Long traditions deserve a witness.
One of the blessings of long-term leadership of a group is becoming a witness to the traditions. Even as the members change, traditions remain and grow.
I’m at my 19th annual Rockford Aces Retreat, and I’m feeling really moved tonight to be a witness to ongoing traditions. Tonight we played Capture The Flag, Werewolf, had a two-minute talent show, sang and laughed. We’ll do more tomorrow; some of these things have been a part of Aces Retreat since the very beginning. Others have evolved or are newer additions.
After close to two decades, I’m witnessing the ghosts of past students who also played a role in these traditions. Maybe they created these traditions, or shaped them in some way.
The current returning Aces are excited to maintain the traditions they experienced one, two, three years ago for the first time. None of them remember doing it in 2011 (when they were one, two, or three…). Only I can see the whole timeline.
It’s an honor.