Some friends put on a presentation tonight about what it was like to be Americans living in St. Petersburg (and I don’t mean Florida) for nearly two years.
They were there as an older Mormon missionary couple: but by the laws of the land, they were not allowed to act as such except inside the walls of the church. They could not do nor could they say anything to identify themselves as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints anywhere else unless someone asked them first.
Which crystalized it to simply quietly living one’s faith by doing good to others. Because that’s what it all comes down to anyway: trying to put more of God’s love into the world.
Which is how they ended up as volunteers helping out at the Hermitage Museum. Volunteering was definitely something they were allowed to do. They learned all they could about the place, for visitors’ sakes as well as their own and tonight, ours.
Sue said that one of the cultural disconnects she discovered was the very concept: historically, there were the royalty and there were the peasants and if you wanted something done it got done by the ones who had no real choice in the matter.
The idea that retired people, in particular, volunteer all over America in order to contribute to the good of society at large–really? They do? Sue said that even though that was a new idea to most, they really liked it.
I came away feeling like I need to get off my duff and go do more for others. A lot more.
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You already do a lot for others through your knitting! (And your chocolate.) Bloom where you’ve been planted.
Comment by Anne 05.06.19 @ 12:15 amAnd this blog!
Comment by Jayleen Hatmaker 05.06.19 @ 7:14 amI knit for charity but it is for me–makes me feel better.
Comment by Sherry in Idaho 05.06.19 @ 8:13 amand you already do so much for others.
Historically, peasants worked till they died. No choice, no option, not if they wanted to eat, have a roof over their heads, survive.
The idea of being able to retire is a very modern, recent concept-especially as it moved from the wealthy class. Part of the reason to retire was to make room in the job market for those younger and more physically fit.
For all of us now past the age where work is mandatory if we are fit enough, growing up with a work ethic does lead to a certain amount of guilt if we do “nothing.”
Perhaps we do not value the time and love put into our families enough?
Comment by Holly 05.07.19 @ 5:58 pmLeave a comment
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