Depends on who you ask

This past weekend, I participated in a community service project with a group of guys from Mercer University. We went to a neighborhood to pick up trash in the streets. As we drove into the neighborhood, there were several guys who commented that the streets were already clean and we didn't need to be there. As I scanned the same streets, I too noticed that the streets appeared to be clean.

We got out of the cars and met up to begin the cleaning. As we walked the first street, one of the guys mentioned that he didn't mind helping, but he didn't think we were doing any good. Despite a few trepidatious attitudes, we continued picking up what trash we saw. It didn't take long to realize that when you look passed the asphalt and into the grass, that there was plenty of trash to be picked up.

What I realized is that as we drove into the neighborhood, the streets appeared clean, consequently making our presence their needless. But we were looking at the streets only because it required less effort to clean the streets. The level of effort we would need to get the trash that was in the yards, the weeds, and in the briars was much higher. With trash bag in hand, it only took a few minutes to realize that the pieces of trash may be small, but the overall amount of trash was plenty. Sometimes, it takes more than a drive-by inspection to see the areas that need cleaning.

As I worked in the back of our group and I was able to watch the group walk the neighborhood. The group began interacting with the residents as we picked up trash. I watched as the folks in the neighborhood shared their delight and appreciation for what the guys were doing. It was obvious that seeing a group of young men serving their neighborhood was a blessing in and of itself.

I propose that the interaction with the residents was of greater influence than picking up trash. The act of removing trash had an immediate impact, and will be felt for a time. But the inspiration given to the young people who watched our group of young men do acts of service and the adults who drew inspiration from the fact that the next generation can be selfless and serving minded can have an impact for the coming months and even years.

Our purpose was to pick up trash. Instead we planted seeds of hope and joy. The needs we met were not noticeable from the comfort of our cars. If you had asked us if we were making an impact, the answer would have been a resounding NO. But we were't the correct people to ask.