What a sacred place this is

     this pilgrim path I have walked many times before
So much like the life I live 
while surrounded by loving companions 
I travel my own path

Each time entering with an intention 

carrying a prayer – a hope – a burden – a desire

Walking and praying – eyes on the path –

opening myself to the experience

Today the path offers the gift of remembrance
     and reflection on a holy experience

Beneath the stately pine tree was a small table

     Pith helmet and treasure chest in place as

    reminders of a wise pilgrim on a sacred quest

At the invitation of a faithful guide

     individuals were escorted to a station on the path

Here, in this sacred space

     at a station on the path

     each one opened herself to the experience

     acknowledged her grief

     and sought a key to unlock the treasure chest

Here, on this path

     One struggled with disbelief and denial,

     One smashed the hard shell of anger and loss

Here, within this circle

     my fingers found a key hidden in the midst of dissolving clay

     and at last we all witnessed flames consume a fragile structure of straw

         and leave only ashes behind

We found that the keys that unlock
     the treasure chest of life, and death, and life beyond death

          were within our mortal clay

Once unlocked, the treasure chest held a raisin.

     Not an ordinary raisin but

the ripest, juiciest, most succulent raisin you can find

A single dancer began to weave through the path

     pausing briefly at each station

Love and loss acknowledged,

      the quest must now continue
      new pilgrims must enter the path

      the dance of life must go on

Music filled the air

     and the entire MADD Camp community
           joined the dance party

               and joyous celebration

    of life and all that goes with it!

Remember, a quest always begins with questions 
How do you catch a pink elephant?
What must one do to catch one? 
MADD campers know what to do! 
One day pilgrims on the sacred quest
will hear trumpeting and rejoicing 

The quest begins with the questions and
     the raisin