Outside Looking In

While searching for an artifact or something that drew some kind of religious appeal, I came across an event that a friend invited me to where he was performing a spoken word. My friend happens to have been part of a program for about 10 years now where kids and young adults are allowed to get together and cultivate their talents. Being that I was there to support a friend during his performance, I felt like an outsider for quite some time until councilors and supporters of the program greeted me. I didn’t realize it at first but this program seamed to be a safe haven for the youth of Inwood Hieghts.

            As seen in the picture, although I was present in the event and took part in supporting each presenter with cheers and applause, I still felt like I didn’t belong. As much as they tried to make it a warm and inviting environment, for some reason I could help but to see things and feel as if I was an outsider. It was an interesting feeling experiencing things from the inside and yet, feels as if I wasn’t really a part of what was going on because I felt like I couldn’t relate to everyone around me because I didn’t share those talents that they so comfortably did. Both the crowd and people who were a part of the show seemed to be in sync and everyone seemed to be enthusiastic about each presentation.

            I quickly felt as if I was in some kind of religious gathering. The way the music and talents brought people together was as if this was their own religion and beliefs. The same way that people of the same religion practice the same faith was the same way in which these people seemed to be all united by a common bond. This experience gave opened my eyes to ways in which people come together and find places where they feel welcomed and comfortable around others that share the same passions and interest.

            My experience as an outsider and kind of treading softly and experimenting in new grounds made me feel a strong connection to Ray from Jack Kerouac’s book, The Dharma Bums, because like him, I felt as if I didn’t belong or fit in with these group of people although I could tell that they all had great interests and wanted nothing more than to show and let the youth cultivate their talents. What mad me feel as if I didn’t belong was that the talents that they shared and presented, aren’t the kind of talents that I could present or bring forth. I made an immediate comparison to the Christian church. I felt as if we shared similar beliefs, however I saw myself as a protestant who broke away from the common beliefs and practices and deviated to another crowd that shared the same goals and interests, just with different talents.

            Its as if religion is more than just and organized belief but shared practices which cam be found everywhere where in places that draw people together to share and grow together with their common interest.