After a week-long immersion class, I’m full of all kinds of useful wisdom. For starters, if you can’t take the heat, stay out of Southern California during the summer. Those who live there often acclimate, but driving down from Seattle in July ought to be avoided at all costs. Second, if you’re still ashamed of your past and feel like the world’s biggest loser (not referring to weight loss) then hanging out with privileged white folks and oppressed ex-gang member people of color at the same time will make your head spin and wring every ounce of compassion from your chest until you can no longer breathe. And, if you’re not careful, you can easily forget that sanity is possible. When your personal powerlessness slaps you smack in the face, surrender is the only way to survive. I can’t change the past. I’m not able to put an end to homelessness or drug addiction. I would if I could, but even the almighty powerful genie doesn’t act on that type of global scale. What I can do is offer my few talents and a couple of encouraging words and watch in amazement as they are multiplied a hundred-fold as everyone I influence does the same. If we all contribute a few hours per month, a few dollars per paycheck, a few acts of kindness, then we can change the world.