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August 13, 2003

HARD WORK

I pulled into the shopping center and saw a little boy wrapped around the legs of his mother; Like ice cream melting they embraced, years of bad decisions runnin' down her face; All mornin' I'd been thinkin' my life's so hard, and they wore everything they own, livin' in a car; I wanted to tell him it would be ok, but I got just got in my suburban and I drove away. I don't know why they say grown men don't cry. -- from Tim McGraw's "Grown Men Don't Cry"

I left work early yesterday to volunteer at the Wheeler Mission. Located close to a part of downtown Indianapolis that is increasingly becoming more and more trendy and upscale, the Mission has been a beacon of hope to inner city people for more than 100 years. It provides beds for homeless men, supper and breakfast for those who attend its chapel services, a Christian study program and summer camp for inner city youth, a Mother's Club, weekly children's program, and an emergency food pantry.

As a late-afternoon volunteer, I help with serving dinner and the clean-up that follows. Today, the gentleman in charge of the cafeteria asked me to work the water / juice station. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, let me tell ya boys and girls... it was really hard work. The 5 gallon insulated cooler containing the Kool Aid and ice water sat on a table no more than 26 inches high, which meant that each and every one of the 150+ cups I filled required repeated bends and twists, which after the first 20 or so became a real pain in the back! But just knowing that I was helping someone else made the effort and resulting pain well worth it.

Doing volunteer work can be a very enriching experience. While our career paths and natural talents may often lead us to perform mundane and routine tasks on a daily basis, there's usually a part of us that remains unfulfilled. Think about it... consider the lyrics to that Tim McGraw song... which would you rather do... be a grown man or woman who cries and does nothing, or one who cries after doing something. I choose to do something, and I'll support and encourage anyone else who attempts to do the same, regardless of the cause!

Posted by Mikal at August 13, 2003 9:24 PM | TrackBack