Saturday, September 27, 2008
Church Work Day...
A couple times a year our church sponsors a day when members can come and help clean up the building and the surrounding areas. Today was one of those days, and boy, I sure didn't feel like getting out of bed this morning. I played ball hockey til after midnight last night (I'm sore today), hung out with my nephew Josh for a while afterward, and then didn't end up getting to sleep until quite early this morning. But needless to say, I dragged myself to the church and started doing one of the many yardwork tasks that needed to be done (after fighting with the ancient church lawnmower for a while first - "Come OUT, you foul pull-start impeding, gas-mixture disturbing demons from the underworld!").
For the past 2 or 3 weeks I had been advertising the church work day with the youth group. I trumpeted the merits of pitching in and lending a hand, and of doing something that is selfless and giving back to the community. But you know teenagers. I know teenagers, too. I used to be one! So, in all honesty, I had low expectations.
However, one teenager did show up. It was the one who is often disruptive in meetings. It was the one who picked a fight with another kid and then later tried to embarrass me at youth camp. It was the one who often takes prime opportunities to be silly, to the point of major immaturity, in an effort to be noticed by everyone.
It was Heng. And in my tired, possibly grumpified state, I thought I would have to work extra hard to get him involved in the work day.
Was I ever wrong.
I asked Heng what he'd like to do, and he simply replied, "whatever you ask me to do, Dairn." I had him sweep sidewalks, while I mowed (and fought) with the lawn mower. Then I asked Heng to pick up garbage all around the daycare grounds and our bus parking lot. He gladly worked, by himself, making the place look a whole lot better.
Heng isn't the fastest worker. He's not the most conscientious. His thick glasses make it difficult to see every scrap of garbage to be picked up and every pine needle to be swept. But he was the only representative from our church youth group there. And he worked 3 hours today, without breaks, and without complaining.
I'm sure that others had important things to do today. And I'm also sure that some just didn't want to get out of bed (me included). But working with Heng brought me a fresh perspective and a jolt of joy. Over pizza lunch, Heng told me that later today he would be working to help his mom clean his house at home and take piano lessons as well. I offered him a ticket to come with me to the football game tonight, but he politely declined saying "it's not really my thing."
I already told him this in person, but thought I'd write it down too. Heng, thanks for the work you put in today. Thanks for being so willing to do whatever I asked because you "just want to help". I'm really proud of you buddy!
One last thing, not that this should make any difference, is that Heng has a form of autism and he struggles in social and learning situations. It didn't hinder him today though, as he turned the tables and taught ME a thing or two about serving....
For the past 2 or 3 weeks I had been advertising the church work day with the youth group. I trumpeted the merits of pitching in and lending a hand, and of doing something that is selfless and giving back to the community. But you know teenagers. I know teenagers, too. I used to be one! So, in all honesty, I had low expectations.
However, one teenager did show up. It was the one who is often disruptive in meetings. It was the one who picked a fight with another kid and then later tried to embarrass me at youth camp. It was the one who often takes prime opportunities to be silly, to the point of major immaturity, in an effort to be noticed by everyone.
It was Heng. And in my tired, possibly grumpified state, I thought I would have to work extra hard to get him involved in the work day.
Was I ever wrong.
I asked Heng what he'd like to do, and he simply replied, "whatever you ask me to do, Dairn." I had him sweep sidewalks, while I mowed (and fought) with the lawn mower. Then I asked Heng to pick up garbage all around the daycare grounds and our bus parking lot. He gladly worked, by himself, making the place look a whole lot better.
Heng isn't the fastest worker. He's not the most conscientious. His thick glasses make it difficult to see every scrap of garbage to be picked up and every pine needle to be swept. But he was the only representative from our church youth group there. And he worked 3 hours today, without breaks, and without complaining.
I'm sure that others had important things to do today. And I'm also sure that some just didn't want to get out of bed (me included). But working with Heng brought me a fresh perspective and a jolt of joy. Over pizza lunch, Heng told me that later today he would be working to help his mom clean his house at home and take piano lessons as well. I offered him a ticket to come with me to the football game tonight, but he politely declined saying "it's not really my thing."
I already told him this in person, but thought I'd write it down too. Heng, thanks for the work you put in today. Thanks for being so willing to do whatever I asked because you "just want to help". I'm really proud of you buddy!
One last thing, not that this should make any difference, is that Heng has a form of autism and he struggles in social and learning situations. It didn't hinder him today though, as he turned the tables and taught ME a thing or two about serving....
# posted by Dairn @ 3:14 PM 
