Hunger is one of the fundamental motivators that drives all organisms. We hunger for many things besides food; love, acceptance, reconciliation, a better social standing... But there is a hunger that creeps up on us and paralyzes us. We hunger for a meaning to our lives.
My passion for community service was ignited by my mother, a woman who would never turn away a beggar without a bag of groceries filled hastily from her own cupboard. Whenever I was around, she would give this bag to me to give to the beggar, strongly believing that I would be blessed from the act of giving. Call it positive energy, karma or God, it is undeniable that there is a blessing received when you give from your heart.
This is what satisfies our hunger for meaning. A grateful smile, the momentary sparkle of a dull eye, the warm feeling of satisfaction is food for our souls. Many people misunderstand the concept of community service. It is not only about feeding a malnourished child, about building houses for the homeless, providing a rural village with basic necessities. It’s about being connected to your community, knowing the needs of the community and addressing them in the best way you can. However, there is a dangerous tendency to ignore this need with our earphones that block out other voices, our complacent attitude fed by the internet and our busy schedules which drown out everything other than ‘ME’.
Why should I do this? It won’t make a difference; I’m just another cog in the wheel.
If enough cogs want to change direction, that wheel will change direction. And that change will set in motion a whole series of other changes. This is why every single contribution, however small, matters. There are so many different ways you can volunteer and connect to your community. Our hearts hunger to be connected to other hearts; that’s the way they have been designed. And you know it’s true every time that warm feeling spreads across your body when you think of a loved one. But that’s not enough; our hearts find their peace through more and more connections to their community.
So, what are you feeding your hungering heart with? More importantly, is it enough?
To find out how STITCH is helping to improve our future, or to find out how you can dedicate yourself, please visit our website at www.stitchmovement.com.
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