I’ve been thinking lately of how nice it is to be useful.  To be productive and part of a mission bigger than our little agendas and ourselves.  It was triggered by a conversation with one of our volunteers.

Vera Dukes, age 86, works with her husband, Jim (he’s only 90!) at the Service Center.  They are in charge of our pantry and are here at least three times a week, sometimes more often.  Jim and Vera keep constant tabs on our inventory and change on their computer our order form.  Each week they fax in an order to the Food Bank.   Then on Monday mornings Vera goes with another volunteer to pick up the food.  She spends about an hour patiently going through their surplus boxes, purchasing items that she knows our clients want.

On Wednesday there was no one to take her and so I volunteered to drive Vera to the Food Bank.  During our ten-minute drive I let her know once more how deeply we appreciate the volunteer work that she and Jim do for us.  Vera simply replied, “We love the work.  It gives us a purpose each day and we love the fellowship with the others there.”

And then came the words that I’ve reflected on the past two days: “People need to be needed.”

So true, Vera.  So true.

Besides the love of Christ in their hearts, a strong motivator for our retired volunteers is that they “need to be needed.”  There’s something within us that wants to be useful.  At lunch today I sneaked away to a park, taking my sack lunch and an old book I haven’t looked at for nearly 20 years.  It’s called Bringing Out the Best in People, written by Alan Loy McGinnis.  You may recall his very popular book during the ‘80’s, The Friendship Factor.  Here’s what he said that fit this theme I’ve been pondering:

            “Our culture (says) that we would be happier if we weren’t so busy, if we weren’t working so hard, if we didn’t have so much homework.  If only we could relax more and take more vacations.  But leisure has little to do with one’s happiness.  To the contrary, I’ve found that the happiest people have found some cause and they stride through life propelled by a commitment.”  ( p. 66)

Makes me think of “The Bee Movie” that is out now.  I’ve already seen it twice and highly recommend it.  Without giving away the plot, consider the plight of those busy bees when they were no longer producing honey and spreading pollen.

When I’m not productive and being useful to others, I tend to self-destruct into self-pity, laziness and general unhappiness.  Yes, I get tired at times and I’m looking forward to a couple days off this weekend, along with the upcoming Christmas break.  However, I prefer to be busy, to be wanted at work and at my church.  I, like you, “need to be needed.”

Pity not the person who is in demand, with a challenging job and a family that continually depends on them.  Rather, pity the person who feels no longer needed, who is wasting away in a nursing home and doesn’t feel like they have a mission in life.

I guess one of my goals in life is to welcome people into my work world; to not try to do it all but instead let them know of my need for their help, and thus give them a life of more productivity and meaning.

Thanks, dear Vera, for teaching me this simple yet profound lesson this week.

Jim