What Ever Happened

To public service? I continually hear people talk about what is needed in this country and I wonder. How many people that proclaim the solutions to society’s ills actually engage and give of their time and personal effort to alleviate the needs of others?

Every time I see a celebrity or politician spout off about what needs to take place for the world to become a better place I look for a camera and then try and take into account what they say and how they live.

As little as 30 years ago neighbors took care of neighbors, but that was when we knew ot neighbors. We have become so ensconced in our own lives that few of us even know our neighbors let alone live in neighborhoods. What we do is live in a cluster of homes or apartments of close proximity; we mind our own business and expect those that live around us to do the same.

I listen to proponents of global warming living in mansions, to those that say more taxes need to be paid for important programs and see that they have accountants that create tax shelters, read what others say about the quality of our soldiers knowing they have never had one in their family or circle of friends. It has become hollow, all these what you need to do talkers, with the real understanding that what they want is change without personal sacrifice.

Can you imagine the change we would see if every person would allot 4 hours per month to provide help to a person based on what they believe they need, not what you think they need? It would be the cumulative manifestation of the barn raisings of old, when an entire community came together to make substantive change in one persons life with the assurance that their neighbors would return the favor when needed. You gave without expectations knowing you where paying into a karmic insurance fund that would pay off when you found yourself in need and hoping never having to collect.

When the Sean Penns of the world begin to proselytize my need to change while standing in front of their one bedroom apartment, leaning on their second hand car with $500 in their bank account, I will cede them the right to make judgment on the decisions of others.

The kicker is that the time spent doing for others actually does for you. A few less hours in front of the computer or television and a few more hours interacting with other human beings. In the end those hours spent are selfishly repaid ten-fold in the image you see in the mirror.