One makes a difference.
Thursday, August 6th, 2009“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” – Edward Everett Hale
Madeline, Dar, Joe, and Katie
One giving person makes a difference.
***
To the Beach!
Joe made a difference to me.
“Where ya’ headed?” I believe is what he said when he approached me in a coffeeshop on Washington Avenue in Grand Haven, MI.
Joe is a long distance swimmer, father of three adorable daughters, husband, neighbor, and an owner of a business that has something to do with surgical equipment (he didn’t want to bore me with the details).
Joe offered to drive me to a laundramat that day, to wash my clothes before my wedding on Saturday, but he was torn. About a half an hour before we were to meet up, a Coast Guard boat had screamed out of the channel with it’s siren roaring. Three children had apparently been washed from the pier. As we walked towards his truck, Joe explains that he felt compelled to go down to the beach to help if a rescue is needed.
He swims two to three miles a day and is probably the best swimmer in town.
So, we scrapped hanging out that day and he made haste to the beach.
Family for half a day.
A couple days later we met up. He fed me oatmeal covered in homeade strawberry jelly and almonds. He insisted I get my clothes washed and dryed, that I shower, “Take your time, enjoy it!” and we hit the local coffee shop for coffee and swapping stories.
Joe was also the star of my recent movie, “Hitchhiking Tips from Our World,” which we filmed down on the very pier where the youngsters had been washed off (they were okay, I hear). As we walked along the pier, Joe was picking up trash left over from the masses that attended the Coast Guard Festival.
We finished with lunch of ham sandwiches and zuccinni at his home with his wife, Dar, his mother in law, Madeline, and his youngest daughter, Katie. I felt like I was part of the family.
***
One person makes a difference.
When I think about the problems of our world or the negative attitudes of the people of our world, I sometimes feel overwhelmed. But, when I am picking up trash with Joe or meeting his family and sharing a meal; when I meet one person doing good because it feels good. I am filled with hope.
Thank you to Joe and his family and to all the other Joe’s of our world!
Do you know a man/woman like Joe? I would love to hear the story, please email me at 2createourworld@gmail.com or post it on our Facebook Wall.
Create Our World.
Ben.
“We can do no great things, only small things with great Love.” – Mother Teresa
