Walking Out the Door: The Gift of Time
Yeah…spring has finally arrived in Fairhaven, CT. We have said good bye to old man winter and hello to the delightful spring / summer months. With record snow fall, cold coastal winds and very short days many in the north east have been ready, for some time, to see the arrival of warm weather. Our entire community is celebrating the return of warm weather, sunny skies and longer days. People are out, ice cream stores are opening up once again and folks are sitting on the porch while the kids play in the streets.
The things I love about springtime are the “noises” I hear around my neighborhood. Now – I have to admit that not all the noises in my neighborhood are necessarily pleasant…but they are our invitation to go, develop relationships, serve the community and most importantly to meet the physical / spiritual needs of our neighbors.
However, after a long, cold winter getting out the door to purposfully serve our neighborhood on a regular basis has been hard. And, upon reflection, I had this thought.
Sometimes…getting out the door is the hardest task to actually accomplish. But – once we are out, engaging our neighbors, developing relationships, and meeting the “real” needs of people – you begin to sense [in your inner-being] the true meaning of life. It is when we get outside our comfort zone(s) that we discover the true self, the meaning for which we were created, and just how easy it is to make a practical difference in the life of our neighbors.
See, it is when I am out the door and involved in the lives of my neighborhood / neighbors that I discover the person I have always wanted to be. I am invigorated, set free, and energized like never before. In addition, one quickly realizes, in this difficult economic climate, the extent to which your neighbors actually have a need. And what is required? In many cases YOU can meet a need by simply donating your time, talents and energy. Although financial support is sometimes needed, everyone [and I mean everyone] can give the gift of time. All of us can work in our neighborhoods, assist our neighbors [esp. the elderly & children] or just make yourself available to listen. Over the years I have discovered, no matter where you live, the need is great.
So, with the arrival of sunny days and warm weather – I hope you will join me in serving, loving and actively sharing the message of Christ with your neighbors.
If you are ever in our neighborhood and want to volunteer Compassion Corps has plenty of opportunities. Come and visit our Calendar of Events and join our work.