Hello, my name is Nicolai Calabria and everyone calls me Nico. I went through the Coming of Age program just like my friends from church. I made my mask. I participated in learning about our religion. I learned what it means to be homeless. I ventured out into the woods on my solo vision quest.

While on that quest, I chose to start by building a fort rather than sitting down in a peaceful setting to contemplate my credo. Once the fort was completed, I sat inside for ten minutes and became bored when no revelations came to me. In my infinite wisdom, I thought, “hmmm, how sweet would it be, if I sat in contemplation up in that tree?” I’m no stranger to tree climbing, but this tree was very tricky. I struggled to find a way up for several minutes, genuinely enjoying the challenge, until I finally arrived at a suitable branch for thinking big thoughts. After a few minutes of silent meditation, I once again decided I was bored… I climbed higher still, looking for a branch with a nice view of the adjacent lake. “Almost there,” I thought, just as the branch that was supporting me snapped off and I fell twenty feet to the ground.

When my heart stopped pounding I immediately began checking my body sure that I would find broken bones or blood gushing from somewhere. Miraculously, I was uninjured and walked away with only minor scratches. There is nothing like a near death experience to help a person focus on what is important in life … and it is a very good cure for boredom as well.

I don’t really believe in fate, but this incident got me thinking; a twenty foot fall, during my vision quest, while climbing to new heights. This had to be a sign of some kind. I believe it was a wakeup call telling me that I need to more fully appreciate the one precious life I have and take greater care to protect it. I was given a second chance and I intend to use it wisely.

As I started to think about my good fortune, I thought about how lucky I was to also have a roof over my head, food when I am hungry, water when I am thirsty, and people who support me in everything that I do. Why have I been so blessed when people around the world go hungry every day?

This led me to start thinking about my belief system and God.

I believe that there is something beyond human understanding that people explain with the idea of a supreme being. For me, God is a mysterious force that makes us think, feel, love, choose, and create the connections between each other and our world.

Some people use the idea of God to explain the unknown. Death is something we all fear and many turn to religion to help understand this. I don’t know what happens when you die. It is caused among the individual who may https://energyhealingforeveryone.com/cialis-3884.html cheapest levitra be suffering from type 1diabetes, the lack of insulin and other development hormones. So check out several stores to cheap viagra see who is charging what. After grabbing the effective Kamagra Online, you will surely crave for having chocolates before hitting the bed with their partner. discount levitra Also, new studies have establish beneficial things from the drug on heart muscles, so researchers are now encouraging physicians to make the relationship when they actually treat these patients. cheap viagra in india I would like to think that your spirit finds a way to live on even though your body does not. I have come to terms with the fact that the answer to this question is unknowable and for this reason I do not look to any religion to answer this question for me.

Other people use the idea of God to search for the meaning of life. I choose to seek this answer for myself and to live according to a set of beliefs and values that are important to me.

I believe that there is nothing more important than family.

Shortly after my birth, my mother was describing me to my aunt over the phone. “He’s a beautiful baby boy, he has blue eyes, brown hair, he weighs 6 pounds 7 ounces and he has one leg,” the last item being little more than an insignificant afterthought. That one phone call sums up the way my parents view me and how they raised me…. just like any other kid. No extra help, no pity, no shame. Growing up my dad always expected me to carry my own weight and having one leg was never an acceptable excuse for getting out of anything, not that I used it as one. Now that I am older, I really appreciate what my parents have done for me and cannot thank them enough for never thinking of me as disabled and for supporting me in my endeavors every step of the way. Thank you, mom and dad.

My brother Kyle and my sister Maya have also helped me to grow up normally by never viewing me or treating me as different from them. When I suggest we use a parking spot reserved for the handicapped, they will say, “Nico! A disabled person might need that!”

If family is the most important thing to me, living life courageously is a close second. We all face challenges of one sort or another. If we let fear paralyze us then those challenges will define our limits. If we are brave and willing to work hard then every obstacle we overcome will open a new world of possibilities and help us to reach our full potential.

I believe it is important to help promote a world in which all people enjoy freedom and are treated equally. Freedom to live our lives in peace and pursue our dreams regardless of what makes us different from others.

I also believe it is important to live life honestly and with integrity because if for no other reason it just feels good.

Finally, I believe we must all take responsibility for changing what we can to preserve our precious planet. Humans, in the name of progress, have become a threat to ourselves. We have failed to recognize the impact we are having on the Earth and we must stop taking it for granted. It is our home and we must show it more respect.

My vision quest and Coming of Age journey might have ended very, very badly. Instead it opened my eyes to what is truly important, taught me a very important lesson, and helped me to develop my credo.

Before I finish I would like to say thank you to my COA councilors who contributed far more than their time to help guide me on my adventure of self discovery. I also want to thank my family again for treating me like any other kid and members of this congregation for all of your support over the years.

Thank you and be careful when climbing trees.