Some of us may be profoundly discouraged about the world we
think we know. So many of our media news sources are relentlessly filled
with stories of natural disaster, grinding poverty, war and death. It is
hard not to be drawn into this negativity. Bad news is news!
Good news doesn't sell newspapers as well. Therefore it may be hard for
us to realize that in many ways the world is becoming a better
place.
There has been notable progress, both internationally and
local to us.
As we think about some positive trends and examples of
progress in the world, several things may come to mind. First, it took
joint efforts by the U.N., many governments and numerous not-for-profit
organizations, engaging large numbers of people, to make these positive "macro"
changes happen.
Secondly, they did not happen overnight. Indeed, some
worthy attempts at concerted positive change were failures, and many succeeded
only because of long-term efforts. Indeed, sometimes it
took years before substantial progress was seen. The issues were not just
about funding. Often the changes required in people and their cultures
met strong resistance. The resistance had to be overcome, and that often
took time and skill. But in the last analysis. it would seem that the
"change lubricant" most often successful was people-to-people
relationships, not distant bureaucracy. It was people teaching each
other, encouraging each other, and working side by side.
Well, is there is a lesson for you and me in this? I
don,t know about you, but I cannot take off a year to go work on a health
project in Haiti. But if I stay home, are there any other ways I can
bring some HOPE to some forgotten people in 2018?
You know what I am going to say to you ---- that there are
some ways. But, that YOU must find them, in efforts specifically
meaningful for yourself. All I can do is offer some suggestions on how to
make your "helping" time the most HOPE-inspiring in others.
Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned in attempting
to bring some HOPE to others, especially to strangers in need, is that
satisfying this goal is not a "one-shot" proposition.
Several years ago, when I became a weekly volunteer at
Runnells Hospital in Berkeley Heights, several of us visited mainly on the
first floor. The Hospital termed these patients "sub-acute,"
because usually they were there for physical therapy after hip or knee
replacements. So, after about 4 or 5 weeks these patients would be
discharged home and we would not see them again. We would have had some
nice conversations, hopefully relieving some of the tedium of a hospital stay,
but at 20 or so minutes per chat each week, we were not really doing much to
instill HOPE. We would have needed time to build a relationship in order
for deeper conversations.
At some point, we discovered that a number of patients on
the first floor, for whatever reason, occupied rooms that would be theirs for
the rest of their lives! Some had outlived their families; others had
working families or children who lived some distance from Runnells, so their
visits to see the family member at Runnells were infrequent and hectic.
We made a point of spending more time with these "long-term"
patients.
Gradually, some beautiful things began to happen. Not
only did the patients begin to tell us how much they looked forward to our
visits, but we discovered that under that thin guise of old age and infirmity,
they were interesting people, proud to share their feelings, frustrations and
hopes for the future.
These long-term relationships began developing several years
ago, and they have grown richer each year that passes, for all of us.
Some of our Runnells friends have died in the meanwhile, but it gives us a warm
feeling to recall many happy times with them, and the satisfaction of perhaps
having brought some HOPE to their final days.
This "seeding" of HOPE does not require one to be
a Runnells volunteer! But it does require intentional long-term
effort ---- not just one-shot conversations or one-shot charitable projects.
The long-term "seeding" of HOPE in others is
satisfying to the giver, too. Sometimes we may feel a little negativity
about the first visit ---- don't we have many other things to do instead of
this?? If one passes that test, however, it gets easier and easier to
feel the personal satisfaction of taking time to "seed" HOPE in
others.
Bring some HOPE to others, as we all try to make the world
an even better place in 2018 ---- even for one person at a time!
It's your move!
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These thoughts are brought to you by the Adult Spiritual
Development Team at CPC, hoping to encourage your personal spiritual growth
this summer.
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