Hellos and Goodbyes

I’ve never enjoyed waking up early, or walking for long distances at a time, or having to make an effort to get something I needed. They’re selfish thoughts, I know, I can be a selfish person. But they’re feelings that everyone has at times. There may be a day when getting out of bed seems useless, or walking is something only people without cars do, or going to get something can be pushed back until later. I’m not the only selfish person out there that has these thoughts. There are an abundance of luxuries the common man takes advantage of daily.  

                People living on the streets don’t have a choice. They are unable to indulge. They are forced to wake up early because of harsh weather conditions, by the bustling sounds of early morning commuters, and in order to get in line for the local food pantry. They may not have a car, they may not even have a bed to wake up on, and they may not even have the heart to get to where they are going.

                As a society, a community, as humans, we don’t recognize the daily needs of others. We can’t blame ourselves, time has done this. Time has made us immune to the escalating issues. Homelessness, people who live in poverty and those with less fortunate conditions are often forgotten about. There is a silver lining. There are people, strong warriors who wield passion like a sword and shield to aid those in desperate need. 

There is Cathy and John, the coordinators from the St. James Food Pantry we volunteered for. They work tirelessly to ensure that every food item donated is sorted, inspected and distributed to the clients. We worked closely with them for two days. We got the insider’s look of how a respectable food pantry works. The amount of food that is donated and processed was a blessing to both me and them. The only problem they could face is a shortage of food. We bagged groceries, we interacted with clients that come in for a lunch program they sponsor, and we had the opportunity to look through the eyes of those who struggled. This time was hard for us. Having to witness all the people who needed help. Our group was moved by this and something stirred in us.

Let me take a moment to commend the people I’ve been with this past week. The sheer camaraderie can be seen for miles. From the get-go the chemistry amongst everyone in the group was palpable. All of our varying personalities played well off each other. We had heart, we had infectious laughs, we had ambitions, we had struggles, we had different cultures, we had wit, we had charm, we had pride, we had had love, and most of all we had the will-the will to make a difference.  

As the days quickly flown by, the group dynamic continued deepening to newer levels. We started as friends and we ended as a family.

We’re all humans. We all have hearts. They’re tender, fragile, and easily broken, but luckily for us they can be mended. We have the needle, the thread, and the tools, to seam the wounds that have been inflicted. It’s up to us to spark change, to make a difference, to light a flame.

Another thing I’ve never enjoyed is saying goodbye. Goodbye signals the end, but this isn’t the end. The end of an ongoing struggling, the end of the impenetrable bond we all fostered.

This is hello. Hello to new beginnings-the struggles we witnessed has incited us to create change. Hello change. Hello to a revolution that is greatly needed. Hello to new friendships. Hello to an evolving world. All it takes is one greeting, one simple smile and one simple welcome.

Time is a funny aspect to grasp. I truly believe that one week can change you. That the minutes, hours, days that you spend with people with different views, values, and morals can affect you. They stoke a small ember that has been generating heat for so long, turning it into a raging flame of passion.

As the laughter of my family members harmonize in the background over a rousing card game, I can’t help but remember every single amazing aspect about them. All of the inside jokes we made, the nicknames we gave each other, the pure love of volunteerism we shared, and the emotional rollercoaster of helping a food pantry we rode on. A week can change you. It can turn strangers into family members. It can turn thoughts about issues we had into movements we want to initiate to inspire change.

One of my favorite quotes is from Helen Keller, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This week has proven that statement.

Change is imminent-watch for it.

Thank you for your time and patience reading this post. Dylan Becker