I have been a taker all of my life. I have lived in a constant state of narcissism. Everyone has been a means to an end for me. When people do not live up to my expectations or the standards that I have decided for them, and I have decided that they no longer serve a purpose for me, then I would quickly discard them. That has been my struggle for a long time.
That seems to have become a thing of the past, though. A door of opportunity opened for me to serve the Partnership To End Homelessness in Greensboro, NC, through AmeriCorps. It is turning out to be a life-changing experience. I will tell you why...
I was simply looking for a part-time job to work during my senior year in college. When I learned about this opportunity, it seemed like a good fit for my life. I could do something positive for the community, while earning a little extra dough to help me live a comfortable life. But, it is much more than that.
I found that out at one of the first training sessions we had. I had just moved into an apartment (my own place for the first time in over three years), and so the members of the group decided to surprise me by chipping in and getting me some things that I might need for my place. They even sprung for a really nice, brand-new toaster oven (which I know took some capital to procure)! It touched my heart deeply, and I was very humbled by such a display of love and care. Usually, I love being the center of attention, but I am in a period of transition in which I would rather let the light shine on those around me.
Why was I humbled? These folks hardly knew me! It is one thing if people within your close proximity reach out to bless you, but it is something altogether different when complete strangers lend a helping hand (and I use the word "strangers" very loosely - we in this group are the type of people who really do not know any strangers in life, if you know what I mean). They did not know me, which, in my mind, would not give them any incentive to reach out to me in the way that they did. (This shows you the faulty narcissistic thinking from which I have suffered).
But, that is the whole point of AmeriCorps, and the Partnership To End Homelessness. We, as servants, are a family. In fact, that is what I was told that day when they gave me these gifts. "We're all family here!" Not only are we family in serving together, we also reach out to serve the family of humanity. We are all one human race, and rather than focusing so much on our differences, we should be seeking to find the ties that unite and bind us together. If more people would adopt such an attitude, the world would be a much better place.
They say that no man is an island unto himself, and that is certainly becoming evident to me in my service with AmeriCorps. It is in the context of team work that we truly learn our independence, because it shows us how much we cannot do it all alone. We all need a helping hand to get by in life, and as we work together, we can promote love, harmony, and the freedom that comes from being able to depend on each other.
A man once said that in order to become the greatest among humanity, you must first become the servant of all. Another man wrote that it is better to give than to receive. The greatest gift we can give is ourselves, because at the very core of our being is light and love. That is what makes humanity so special, and why it is important to have service projects like the AmeriCorps Partnership To End Homelessness. It teaches and trains us to get out and over ourselves, and into this world and help make it a better place, one act of random kindness at a time. This is true change, and I am thankful that it is finally happening in my life. Now, I can stop being a taker, and become the giver I was designed and created to be.
by Carl Michael Pozyck, Food Bank Assistant for AmeriCorps at Greensboro Urban Ministry
