Okay, well, what did we expect?
Rain has plagued us from the beginning, why should it have changed...
So, for the final day of the Just One...Food Drive there were no donations.
Yes, I had my hopes up that people would come through in the last minute, but things do not always work out that way...
BUT we are not empty handed as I keep reminding myself. Thanks to the generosity of friends and family we will be able to drop a BUNCH of food! AND $141.00 in donations!
Of course, there will be another one...have to rethink some things, but there will be another one!
Grand total for pounds of food, I have yet to determin, but we will be taking 2 boxes when we drop them off!
Thanks again to everyone!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thank you, whoever you are!
Got a letter in the mail today. Well, not really a letter.
An envelope addressed to "Food Drive".
No return address, but it appears to have come from St. Paul.
Had $10.00 in cash in it.
No letter, no note, no nothing. Just the cash.
I swiftly bought lottery tickets in hopes to at least double the money!
Just kidding. I put it in the collection box as well.
I am assuming that whoever did it, is one of the "Parkers"...and to think, they even wasted a stamp.
Thanks again, out there!
Maybe we will have to do this again...
An envelope addressed to "Food Drive".
No return address, but it appears to have come from St. Paul.
Had $10.00 in cash in it.
No letter, no note, no nothing. Just the cash.
I swiftly bought lottery tickets in hopes to at least double the money!
Just kidding. I put it in the collection box as well.
I am assuming that whoever did it, is one of the "Parkers"...and to think, they even wasted a stamp.
Thanks again, out there!
Maybe we will have to do this again...
All Good Things Come To An End...
Last day of the food drive is tomorrow.
I want to complain, so I will.
For one, we have been plagued by poor weather. Rain on almost every day of the drive.
And it sounds like rain tomorrow too.
Also, there has been rain so dang much that the signs keep getting ruined or detachting from the posts.
NOW, I find that work rears it’s ugly head, and I won’t be able to do ANYTHING for the drive tomorrow outside of putting out the box and the sign (which I have to fix, AGAIN).
So, forget the donuts, and the coffee…all I get to do is leave out the box and the sign.
And, at last check, all that has been put in the box is leaves from the trees.
I take solace though, in the fact that I have such a caring family that they have made this food drive a success! We will be able to deliver a box and a half of food! And have some donations as well!
It’s easy to get down, but I won’t. But I will vent my frustration. Especially at the people who park on our street for work…sometimes I think of standing on my stoop and yelling at them.
Alas, I will thank God for the opportunity and thought to do it…because if anything came out of it, the knowledge that more of this sort of thing needs to be done. And that more of us need to encourage more and more people to do the same.
A sad lesson, though. Yet a very hopeful one, too.
It’s up to God, and those who park out there, now…
(Just like God said, and Ortberg points out – how true your post Mom)
I want to complain, so I will.
For one, we have been plagued by poor weather. Rain on almost every day of the drive.
And it sounds like rain tomorrow too.
Also, there has been rain so dang much that the signs keep getting ruined or detachting from the posts.
NOW, I find that work rears it’s ugly head, and I won’t be able to do ANYTHING for the drive tomorrow outside of putting out the box and the sign (which I have to fix, AGAIN).
So, forget the donuts, and the coffee…all I get to do is leave out the box and the sign.
And, at last check, all that has been put in the box is leaves from the trees.
I take solace though, in the fact that I have such a caring family that they have made this food drive a success! We will be able to deliver a box and a half of food! And have some donations as well!
It’s easy to get down, but I won’t. But I will vent my frustration. Especially at the people who park on our street for work…sometimes I think of standing on my stoop and yelling at them.
Alas, I will thank God for the opportunity and thought to do it…because if anything came out of it, the knowledge that more of this sort of thing needs to be done. And that more of us need to encourage more and more people to do the same.
A sad lesson, though. Yet a very hopeful one, too.
It’s up to God, and those who park out there, now…
(Just like God said, and Ortberg points out – how true your post Mom)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Diversity...tolerance...huh?
Yesterday we had "tolerance" training at work.
While I know they are good intentioned, I can't help but wonder what the exact purpose of it was.
It's not like the field we work in is homogeneous. We inherently have a diverse population we work with and serve.
This field is not for racists, bigots, or those who devalue any human - because if so, then you have one awful day of work after another, as you are surrounded by any number of "diverse" people.
Black, white, gay, straight, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, foreign...etc.
True this goes for other fields as well, what I'm trying to point out is that we picked and work in this fields because we have open minds and open hearts.
It seemed that it was preaching to the choir...or maybe there's a problem I was not aware of.
It got me to thinking though...we are soooo concerned with our differences. And differences are good, between people, as it can be a nice spice to life...who wants cut outs of each other?
But we focus so much on the OBVIOUS differences. Black/white...straight/gay...man/woman.
These things we focus on, and call out when we see someone of a different ______ either a victim or aggressor.
Yet, we gloss over many, many, many other differences that we hold against each other. And, by doing so, as well may overshadow the REAL reason behind someones hate, or prejudice...it just might NOT BE because someone is black, but because of....you name it, it can be anything.
Looking at the obvious, doesn't get to the core, and doesn't change of offer solutions.
But one solution came to mind.
C.S. Lewis had written a letter to someone about the difference in Christianity. Mainly, protestant vs. catholic.
He said something to the fact that point out each other differences (and pointing out how one side is right and the other wrong) won't bring the two sides any closer.
Lewis said through charity would both sides become closer. Through charity, we'd forget about the differences, and focus on the greater good.
I believe this can be said for "human relations" as well.
Perhaps that's why in the field I work in, many diverse people CAN get along so well. (I'm not saying LIKE or LOVE) but get along...get work done DESPITE any differences.
Through charity, through coming together for the greater good, the greater need, we not only won't focus on the differences, but will realise that it ultimately doesn't matter, and that WE ALL are in this together.
Many of our differences are not our choice, thus even we shouldn't be proud, or point them out...many of our differences are our choice - for good or ill.
Either way, if we think of the other man more, we think of ourselves less. If we think of ourselves less, we won't notice that anyone is any different.
That is what God was trying to get at with the commandments...(but that's another rant)
While I know they are good intentioned, I can't help but wonder what the exact purpose of it was.
It's not like the field we work in is homogeneous. We inherently have a diverse population we work with and serve.
This field is not for racists, bigots, or those who devalue any human - because if so, then you have one awful day of work after another, as you are surrounded by any number of "diverse" people.
Black, white, gay, straight, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, foreign...etc.
True this goes for other fields as well, what I'm trying to point out is that we picked and work in this fields because we have open minds and open hearts.
It seemed that it was preaching to the choir...or maybe there's a problem I was not aware of.
It got me to thinking though...we are soooo concerned with our differences. And differences are good, between people, as it can be a nice spice to life...who wants cut outs of each other?
But we focus so much on the OBVIOUS differences. Black/white...straight/gay...man/woman.
These things we focus on, and call out when we see someone of a different ______ either a victim or aggressor.
Yet, we gloss over many, many, many other differences that we hold against each other. And, by doing so, as well may overshadow the REAL reason behind someones hate, or prejudice...it just might NOT BE because someone is black, but because of....you name it, it can be anything.
Looking at the obvious, doesn't get to the core, and doesn't change of offer solutions.
But one solution came to mind.
C.S. Lewis had written a letter to someone about the difference in Christianity. Mainly, protestant vs. catholic.
He said something to the fact that point out each other differences (and pointing out how one side is right and the other wrong) won't bring the two sides any closer.
Lewis said through charity would both sides become closer. Through charity, we'd forget about the differences, and focus on the greater good.
I believe this can be said for "human relations" as well.
Perhaps that's why in the field I work in, many diverse people CAN get along so well. (I'm not saying LIKE or LOVE) but get along...get work done DESPITE any differences.
Through charity, through coming together for the greater good, the greater need, we not only won't focus on the differences, but will realise that it ultimately doesn't matter, and that WE ALL are in this together.
Many of our differences are not our choice, thus even we shouldn't be proud, or point them out...many of our differences are our choice - for good or ill.
Either way, if we think of the other man more, we think of ourselves less. If we think of ourselves less, we won't notice that anyone is any different.
That is what God was trying to get at with the commandments...(but that's another rant)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Missed that one...
I’m am not very good at checking on the posts as it were…especially if I post on a Friday.
I had missed this post in response to one way back on the other blog.
(comments:
Adria said...
I was feeling a little lonely today and this spoke to me. Well put. :-) )
And while I hesitate to say “you’re welcome” because it isn’t really my doing, but I would have liked to respond to let Adria know that I read it and appreciate it myself.
Sorry, Adria!
Ah, the list of things to work on keep growing…
I had missed this post in response to one way back on the other blog.
(comments:
Adria said...
I was feeling a little lonely today and this spoke to me. Well put. :-) )
And while I hesitate to say “you’re welcome” because it isn’t really my doing, but I would have liked to respond to let Adria know that I read it and appreciate it myself.
Sorry, Adria!
Ah, the list of things to work on keep growing…
A Belated thanks!
I got to get better at thanking people, and responding as well.
Thanks to Sharon for her donation to the food drive!
At least on box is full!
There have been times, during this, that I have gotten down and felt a bit miffed at the "Parkers" and people in general, but then I realized something...
I'm pretty sure that God urged me to do this...now, of course I am "measuring" it's success, which I shouldn't really be doing, because the outcome (I believe) was less important than my DOING IT.
Sounds a bit weird and self-centered, I know, and that's another part...this whole time I try to refrain from saying "my" food drive, as it truly has turned into an "our" food drive - at least for the family - and that's pretty cool!
Thanks to Sharon for her donation to the food drive!
At least on box is full!
There have been times, during this, that I have gotten down and felt a bit miffed at the "Parkers" and people in general, but then I realized something...
I'm pretty sure that God urged me to do this...now, of course I am "measuring" it's success, which I shouldn't really be doing, because the outcome (I believe) was less important than my DOING IT.
Sounds a bit weird and self-centered, I know, and that's another part...this whole time I try to refrain from saying "my" food drive, as it truly has turned into an "our" food drive - at least for the family - and that's pretty cool!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Quick Food Drive Update
Another quick update here…
On Saturday, we got home to hear a message on our machine (that wasn’t a bill collector – jk) from some guy at a market research deal with Second Harvest saying that they would like me to participate (and get paid!).
I have yet to decide.
I have emailed my contact over at Second Harvest to see if this is on the up and up. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, but these days one never can be too sure.
We shall see.
On Saturday, we got home to hear a message on our machine (that wasn’t a bill collector – jk) from some guy at a market research deal with Second Harvest saying that they would like me to participate (and get paid!).
I have yet to decide.
I have emailed my contact over at Second Harvest to see if this is on the up and up. I don’t see why it wouldn’t be, but these days one never can be too sure.
We shall see.
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