AJRCA Spotlight: Trina Leshay Williams

Hallelujah – Narrow Way – Hallelujah

Somewhere around July of 2024, I received a strange phone call.  An actual Rabbi was on the other end of my phone, asking if I would consider contract CPE work at AJRCA.  As I listened to Rabbi Hoffman share about the life and growth of the CPE program, I became excited about the possibility of leading a group of future Rabbis, Cantors, and Chaplains into deeper self-awareness through the clinical method of learning (action – reflection – new action). I was curious about exploring the undertones of the ancestral connections common to our faith perspectives, while exploring ways to translate and transliterate our unique worldviews into the work of offering spiritual and emotional support to those in need.  I was excited about many things, and I came with a Hallelujah in my heart.

I was not so excited about the great unknown that I was about to walk into.  The complexities of a past I had nothing to do with, along with the amazing possibilities of continuing a legacy set in motion by a respected colleague.  Upon reflection, those feelings were reminiscent of my experience of moving to Perth, Australia, to offer CPE at Royal Perth Hospital.  I had so many curiosities and wonderings, and a bit of fear. 

When I arrived at my first residency experience, I began looking for common ground. Spaces where we have walked similar, parallel, and intersecting paths.  I observed the gathering of old friends and the introduction of new ones.  I was welcomed by the Elders and embraced with a cautious curiosity by the students.  The change that was ‘promised’ had arrived, and behold, she is African American and a Jesus Follower – Oy vey!

Then the music started, and my body and soul naturally fell into step with the rhythm. Time both stopped and started, as our bodies began to sway to the drums, tambourines, and THE VOICES! I had never been in a group of Cantors before, and when those voices lifted, I was transported into the Hallelujah realm immediately!  I could not understand their words, but I understood the meaning underneath, within, and inside the music.  And I knew I was home, visiting dear cousins.

After the Hallelujah (Honeymoon) came the journey through the narrow way. The next natural step.  Here is where the messiness came out and covered us all.  The messiness of our world, the systems we navigate, expectations, difference, fear, grief, grief, grief! We made it to the narrow way with spectacularity!  We made it through to our messes together, and some may have realized that it is primarily in the messy spaces that the work gets done.  

Please take these words with you as you continue to live into the action-reflection-action or hallelujah-narrow way-hallelujah.

 

I came to give 

A Piece of my soul 

In hopes of touching 

A place in yours 

 

I came to offer 

Cooling water for your 

Fractured heart 

Purpose for your shattered dreams 

 

I came as I was called 

Into the vast unknown 

I came, and you were here 

Here with your smiles 

And the silent questions in your eyes 

 

You offered me words 

Spoken from your hearts 

I came to give 

And I received 

 

I came to give 

And to me was given 

 

I came 

You came 

And now 

We are changed.

Yasher-koyekh
Dr. Trina
https://www.poetrina.com