Community service can have a profound impact on an individual's life. I recognize that I don't do nearly as much community service as I should, and I have made a strong effort to change that this quarter and for the rest of my life.
The latest and most influential service project that comes to mind is one I have had going with members of my church in my hometown, Avon Lake, Ohio. I am a member of a rather small Methodist church of maybe 60 to 80 people, most of which are old, weak, and whose health is deteriorating each day. This requires the youth to take action in many aspects of the church, such as landscaping, visiting and taking care of elder members, and simply holding the door open for them and helping them get seated and prepared for service.
Whether it be taking a Sunday afternoon to work with other members in cutting grass, weeding, trimming, raking leaves or shovelling snow, serving the church and its elder members who built it formed a sense of unity amongst the younger members. This opened my eyes to a new piece of service, community. In combining our abilities and talents, we made a difference in our community, our church. And then during the week, for those of us who could drive, we would make trips to get groceries for those could not themselves. These simple little things added up to a greater difference, and illustrated the true importance of community service to me and my fellow youth members.
I have tried to keep up with this community service project long-distance here at Ohio State with a particular member of the congregation. Once member, Betty, has had a great impact on my faith and my growth as an individual, and I have kept in touch with her through writing and sending letters to her back home. She has not been able to leave her home for quite some time now, and she has often told me one of the greatest joys in her life is receiving letters from her friends. I sometimes wonder if this last piece qualifies as communtiy service, actually. But I think I am making an impact on her life, as big or small as it is. Or at least I am trying to. If that fits your personal definition of service - making a difference in someone's life - as it does mine, than it would be considered community service.
Community service has taught me the true impact only one person can make with a little time and effort. Even more so, I have learned that a group, in collaboration, can make an even greater impact on society at large. I have learned so much from the limited experience I have with community service, and as I make a concerned effort to perform more community service, I am eager to see what else I have to learn.
Your point about a bunch of little service activities making up a greater difference really struck home for me. Its something I struggle with to a great extent. I always feel like when I'm doing small services for my community that I am not really doing anything even though that all the small things count. You just might not be able to see just how much of a difference you really made.
ReplyDeleteI totally think you are making a difference by writing letters! It is the little things! I also agree with Ozzy's last point, you usually don't see the entire big picture of what you do, however that shouldn't deter you from doign service.
ReplyDeleteAlex, that is an awesome thing that you are doing and it qualifies as great community service on all levels. One of the things that I look for to motivate me when doing community service is how it impacts someone else's life and truthfully, it isn't that hard to find. Sometimes people do service and they don't even realize it. We will make a better world by doing the little things because they all add up to make a big picture. I really wish I could stick with a service project for so long like you have. I guess I will have to search for that in my future.
ReplyDeleteI think Quintero brings up an interesting idea. Community Service is not really a tangible entity and it can be accomplished in so many various ways. The letter writing you do is amazing and it definitely has an impact on her life and I believe you're rewarded as well. Very nice post!
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