ISIS. Syrian refuges. Hurricanes. Earthquakes. Human trafficking. School shootings.
When we look at the enormity of the problems people are facing, both here and around the world, it is easy to feel useless. How can I possibly do enough to make a difference–even a teeny difference?
One story of making a difference
While browsing through a library book sale, I came across I Am A Pencil by Sam Swope This is a true story of a writer in New York City who decides to spend three years volunteering to teach creative writing to elementary students in a poor area of Queens. Yes, that’s right–three years. As a volunteer in a school is filled with immigrant families from all over the world, many of whom struggle with English. Why bother, you might ask. (And I’m sure people did ask him. Over and over.)
But the author stuck with it, and managed to get these kids to write stories and poems. Some are fun, others poignant, others heartbreaking. Through the snippets of stories and poems and author’s commentary we glimpse the hard life most of these kids have, their joys and fears and dreams. We also glimpse how much he cares–enough to research better middle-schools for these kids, cajole their parents into applying, coach the kids and their parents through the process, then doggedly pursue options that seemed to have closed.
All to help thirty-some kids out of the many thousands of students in New York City alone.
Why bother?
Because what he did mattered. To those kids. To their families. And to who-knows-how-many others as those children become adults and move forward in paths they may not have traveled if it weren’t for an eccentric writer who decided it was a good idea to coax poems about trees out of grade-school kids who rarely saw anything besides the concrete and brick of their poor neighborhoods.
We may not have much influence on the world stage but we have the power to make a difference in people’s lives. Every single day.
We must never allow the stories of darkness and evil to overwhelm us. Instead, we should each do our part to overwhelm the darkness with good. No matter how insignificant it seems.
A jar of applesauce given to a neighbor matters.
An encouraging word to a student or coworker matters.
A thoughtful note, text or phone call matters.
A day’s work done with excellence matters.
An hour of volunteer time matters.
You matter.
Never forget it.
Now go out and do your little bit of good. And remind others to do the same.
