Completion - 56th and Woodlawn

My destination matches the stately brick mansions on this stretch of Woodlawn Avenue. Tan brick archways, adorned with Christmas lights and wreaths, form open hallways on either side of the hall.

The walls rise to meet a series of large wooden beams, which run from left to right, and form the base of the hall’s A-frame ceiling. A traditional Christmas carol plays from the large organ pipes which hang over the front stage.

Inside, a handful of people are scattered across the padded dark wood benches of the main hall. A man greets me, and two older people in light blue robes smile gently at me, and wish me Happy New Year. A few minutes later, a young woman in a dark robe introduced herself and welcomed me into this space.

The event moves peacefully through a series of organ-backed hymns, poems read by the main speaker, and written meditations which were read aloud in unison by everyone in the hall. The eight-person, blue-robed choir provided musical interludes between the readings from the side of the front stage.

This is the perfect way to end this year-long journey that began 364 days earlier just a few blocks south of this hall. There was no pomp and circumstance. No excessive celebration. It was neither sad and solemn or angry and bitter.

It was calm. It was grounded. It was rooted in messages of love and peace, with tangible calls to action for all assembled. Reminders of what we can do, what we can control, and what we release to that which is greater than us.

The main speaker came to the front stage and delivered a short talk. She drew inspiration for her words this morning from a verse in the Bible which states:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The journey concludes in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the south side, at the corner of 56th Street and Woodlawn.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

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