World Changers: Day 4

It's the last day, and each house is getting the last touches before the volunteers return home. When they go, they leave something brighter than when they arrived. That's a goal we can all strive for in our lives.

Small details - like this tiny hatch - receive attention on the last day.

There's something that stands out to me in the pictures from this week, and I wonder if you have noticed it as well. It's the imperfection -- the splashes of paint, the shaky borders, the unreachable corners.

We could be negative: "Those kids left a mess. Do you see that mistake!"

We could rationalize: "They're just kids, not professionals." Or, "You get what you pay for." Or even, "It cost too much/we didn't have the supplies/insurance wouldn't let us."

Or we could look at these little problems as part of a bigger approach to volunteerism. (Hint: that's what I'm doing here). I don't know of a single non-profit that would turn down a professional offering to donate their valuable expertise. But by trying to make a big difference, to make the most effective use of our time, maybe we shy away from volunteering when we're not an expert. We let being imperfect prevent us from making a difference.

Earlier today I saw this poster which I think presents a counter-approach to making a difference. It focuses on the little things we can do to be good influences in our community. What it describes is a lifestyle, and while we won't everything all the time (I don't think I've ever danced in the street), we do what we can when we can.

Most of us can't hop on a bus and shuttle around the country painting homes. But we can build community, right here at home. After all, there is no such thing as a Professional Good Neighbor, so who can judge our mistakes?