This weekend I had the immense pleasure of traveling to Shelby NC with the Chowan University Mission team. I learned a lot this weekend, I learned that acceptance is around every corner. However I witnessed three characteristics that I can only hope to emulate in the future. Two of these characteristics came from two members of my team.
I witnessed the strength of words. I had countless conversations this weekend but one stuck with me. I was sitting at the table enjoying dinner with Ms. Mari and she said "I think a big issue we have in this world is that we treat people like issues and not individuals". That stuck with me because of how true it is. We treat poor people, drug addicts, children and even our friends like issues, like their is something wrong with them when they mess up. Of course I'm not denying that everyone has error, but the point here was to say what if we treated people like they each have a story. What if we walked out of our doors everyday and met someone on the street and spoke life? What if we got to know their individuality, what's behind their mistakes? Couldn't we be better, wouldn't they be better? As I pondered on this thought I decided to give it a try. I met three people today. Two were ex convicts. Both were incredible individuals, with goals and a story. Their stories were beautiful and remind me of the human condition. That we mess up, we fail but we keep going. The last person I met, I only met him briefly and it was in the midst of him shouting at me not to give his date directions. I could've shouted back, but I didn't. I didn't because when putting the situation into context I realized he was lost, he was scared, he was in an unfamiliar place. In that moment I could have made him an issue, but instead I made him an individual. I didn't shout back, I turned and gave what directions I could. Individuality is what makes us special, it's what helps us thrive. Without it we would all be the same and there would be no story to cherish.
The second person I met this weekend was Hal. Hal is kind of old and the whole day we worked he had a hat on but only wore it halfway. However in all his oddness, Hal showed me patience and compassion. He may not have been a miracle worker but being in his presence was just a great feeling. He showed me how to build and how to measure. He laughed with us and encouraged us. I can only hope to be that patient when teaching. To be that kind when showing others something that they are new to. Hal impacted me us such a way that I'm not even sure he knew.
The last person was Tara. Tara is from Charlotte and very eccentric. More importantly Tara was happy.She was always smiling, not once throughout my whole time in Shelby did I see her frown or complain. Instead, she took pictures and was just great to be around. I felt her kindness and while it may not have been intentional for her, for me it was. Being kind is sometimes so much easier said than done. Tara however showed it with ease.
I learned alot from this trip, I learned that rocks really hurt when you fall on them, I learned that wheelchair ramps take an extremely long time to build. Most of all I learned how to be more like Jesus. To be more like the Jesus who preached a different message than his predcessors. I learned what patience and kindest truly looks like. For that I am forever greatful
I witnessed the strength of words. I had countless conversations this weekend but one stuck with me. I was sitting at the table enjoying dinner with Ms. Mari and she said "I think a big issue we have in this world is that we treat people like issues and not individuals". That stuck with me because of how true it is. We treat poor people, drug addicts, children and even our friends like issues, like their is something wrong with them when they mess up. Of course I'm not denying that everyone has error, but the point here was to say what if we treated people like they each have a story. What if we walked out of our doors everyday and met someone on the street and spoke life? What if we got to know their individuality, what's behind their mistakes? Couldn't we be better, wouldn't they be better? As I pondered on this thought I decided to give it a try. I met three people today. Two were ex convicts. Both were incredible individuals, with goals and a story. Their stories were beautiful and remind me of the human condition. That we mess up, we fail but we keep going. The last person I met, I only met him briefly and it was in the midst of him shouting at me not to give his date directions. I could've shouted back, but I didn't. I didn't because when putting the situation into context I realized he was lost, he was scared, he was in an unfamiliar place. In that moment I could have made him an issue, but instead I made him an individual. I didn't shout back, I turned and gave what directions I could. Individuality is what makes us special, it's what helps us thrive. Without it we would all be the same and there would be no story to cherish.
The second person I met this weekend was Hal. Hal is kind of old and the whole day we worked he had a hat on but only wore it halfway. However in all his oddness, Hal showed me patience and compassion. He may not have been a miracle worker but being in his presence was just a great feeling. He showed me how to build and how to measure. He laughed with us and encouraged us. I can only hope to be that patient when teaching. To be that kind when showing others something that they are new to. Hal impacted me us such a way that I'm not even sure he knew.
The last person was Tara. Tara is from Charlotte and very eccentric. More importantly Tara was happy.She was always smiling, not once throughout my whole time in Shelby did I see her frown or complain. Instead, she took pictures and was just great to be around. I felt her kindness and while it may not have been intentional for her, for me it was. Being kind is sometimes so much easier said than done. Tara however showed it with ease.
I learned alot from this trip, I learned that rocks really hurt when you fall on them, I learned that wheelchair ramps take an extremely long time to build. Most of all I learned how to be more like Jesus. To be more like the Jesus who preached a different message than his predcessors. I learned what patience and kindest truly looks like. For that I am forever greatful