Detroit is a city marred by its complicated but rich history, and is identified by the long-term residents who have overcome the surmounting trials and tribulations before them. Detroit is a city unlike that of any other. Detroit, over time, will reveal the true nature of yourself.  Detroit will test your fortitude and uncover your fallacies.

…A test that I have failed. Since the conclusion of high-school, I have become all to accustomed to moving and ”home” became a temporary word to call my current place of residence. I developed a variety of cancerous character traits that never had the time to show their true colors because, due to my academic calendar, I moved every semester. Signing a 1-year symbolic ”contract” to the city of Detroit, I moved again with optimism that I could mature past my flaws that played a pivotal role in my desire to move and press ”restart”.

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“The grace of endurance is the great power of God at work within us.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Pearls of Wisdom: Great mind

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As an avid distance runner, I find freedom in the tranquility created from early morning runs as the sun sets above the horizon behind the skyline. I find peace in the uninterrupted time in prayer during the mid point of runs. I was born to run, but lately running has taken on a new connotation. I have run from the hardships and while the time on the stopwatch flashed new PR’s on most runs, I came to a personal crossroad in my maturation to an adult. At the midpoint of my contract to Detroit and the fellowship, I had an increasingly strong desire to cut all ties to Detroit and accept a desirable job offer on the East coast. I had the ”out” I become so accustomed to, and was all but on my way. It was all but a done deal. I did not feel compelled to stay in Detroit, nor was I making any notable progress developing true friendships within the fellowship. I went as far to start packing with every intention to go.

Frustrated and disappointed in myself for not maximizing the opportunity I had in Detroit, I prayed and laced up my shoes for what I presumed to be one of my last runs in Detroit for the foreseeable future. however, what happened between miles 7 and 8 not only changed my present mindset but my future. I let go of what the stopwatch said, took out the headphones and had a lengthy conversation with a resident of Detroit experiencing homelessness who had seen everything the city has endured. A conversation that forced me the remainder of my run to reconsider my outlook and attitude both on Detroit and how easily I ”ran” from hardship and isolation. A conversation I truly believe to be a reflection of who and what Detroit is and why I elected to stay.

As an athlete I have developed a uncharacteristically strong ability to endure pain and maximize performance through pain but on a personal level was all to easy to fold ship and ”move”. As a very shy, quiet person I was reluctant to step outside my comfort zone and step into a room of 30 people who appeared nothing like me. I was reluctant to move to a city notorious for its grit and unlike the south, unwelcoming front. I questioned my decision to accept the position in the fellowship and move to Detroit most days from September to that one conversation that shifted my entire perspective. Today I am very grateful I made the career and personal choice I did to move here. It has forced me to stand face to face with my character flaws and mature beyond them. Detroit has challenged me, and pushed me to and beyond what I previously felt capable to overcome and achieve and its for that reason alone I say thank you Detroit.