So I'm in the middle of redoing my basement...actually, I'm teaming up with people to redo my basement. See, I'm not a very handy person...I can do some things, but not many. I lean on people and their expertise to help me get through little projects like this. It got me to thinking about how much we lean on people, but also how this relationship benefits both parties.
There's nothing more fulfilling to me than to use something I'm good at...something I enjoy, to help someone out. First of all, I love to do it. I feel confident in it. It gives me a sense of worth. So just the chore itself, whatever it is, brings me a sense of fulfillment.
Then there's the other side, the part where what I'm doing is helping someone. It is lightening their load. It is doing something they can't do, or don't know how to do. Most of the time those who we help are grateful and would give us whatever we ask for to 'pay us back' for our time and effort.
This is the worth part. They don't need to give us anything. They've already given it to us in the opportunity. As much as we may want the monetary donation, the act of being appreciated seems to be more than enough. The act of being appreciated isn't a once and done thing, but it's a building block. Everytime one of these exchanges takes place it's more than just services rendered, it's people treating other like they would like to be treated. It's biblical. It's relationship. It's a moment where people gather around something for someone and are at harmony with one another.
If you could think of it in music: the need is the song and those who gather around the need are the ones playing the instruments. The whole thing makes music. It comes together as people come together. As community happens.
We find worth not only in ourselves but in those we help. They are worthy of help. They are worthy of our time. In them we see ourselves, human beings who long for people to come around them.
We find fulfillment as we work together to make the song, but the song never happens alone. A song (a need) happening alone is suffocating, but a need that's not a solo act is an orchestra. Much of life's beauty comes when we make the song with others.
