Agape Day 2- A Better Understanding

Today was the second day of Young Adult week, but the first full day. We got up this morning, ate, said morning prayer, went over rules and then quickly went off in separate groups, to different neighborhoods going door to door, collecting non-perishable foods for the Agape Food Bank. My group was on Forest and South Garden Street, just west of Western's campus. Because it was the middle of the day, there wasn't that many people home, but most doors that did open, had people on the other side, excited to help. After going door to door and eating lunch, we then set out to different grocery stores in the area. We stood outside in our groups, passing out fliers indicating what types of donations customers could buy, and donate to the food bank.

 Something that really stood out to me during this time, was how many of the people who did donate, but only donated one or two items, apologized to us for not donating more. It really made me sad to hear them say this-- every time, I tried to reassure them that anything helps, and we really appreciated their donation. When this happened, it really made me think about what people are doing when they donate their time or money to those in need. No matter how big or little their donation is, they are still choosing to donate. They are still making a choice to serve God and serve others, even if that choice isn't as much as they would like to donate. But the plain fact that they made that choice, and are giving of themselves-- that is definitely enough, and helps tremendously.

After being at the stores, we then came back to Sacred Heart and did some team building activities. I was told to go on a scavenger hunt with a few others, but was a little reluctant to go, because some of our group was in the kitchen making dinner, and we wanted to wait for them, but we were quickly told not to wait and to just go about our scavenger hunt. So we did, and it was a lot of fun. We then came back for dinner, but the other members of our teams were still missing and seemed to still be in the kitchen. We were very confused and were concerned about our friends, and saving some dinner for them, but the Agape staff said that they had already eaten and to not worry about them. We were then brought back together for another team building activity, where we had to all stand in a line, holding hands, going through a spider web-- without touching the web. This was definitely a challenge, but even when some of us touched the web, they let it slide. After this activity, we found out that we had been split off into different groups, and those with black hair, wearing wrist bands, had been bossed around, and were told they had to clean and make dinner and had also been accused more of touching the web during the spider web game. It all made sense now-- and after finding this out, it really made me think about all of the injustices in the world and how even just during that game, I could have admitted I touched the rope and gone back, but I didn't, and yet the others were called out unfairly, and I did nothing about it. How often does that happen in our everyday life, in our society? That's there's an injustice, but we do nothing about it? Thinking about this, made me realize this is something I really need to work on in my own life.

Looking back at the day, something else I struggled with, was another thought that came to me while standing outside the stores. We were out there for a few hours, and after a while, I definitely found it hard to stay positive and motivated. I kept finding myself, peeking at the clock that was positioned in the middle of the complex we were standing in. I then started thinking about other individuals who stand outside of grocery stores-- girl scouts selling cookies, boy scouts selling popcorn, high school students selling chocolate bars... but then I also began to think about the people in Seattle who are of low income who sell the Real Change Newspaper. For those of you who have not heard of the Real Change Newspaper, it is a Newspaper in Seattle, that people of low income or homeless can buy for a very low rate, and then sell for a dollar or however much the buyer wants to give them. Individuals who sell this paper usually do so outside of grocery stores, on street corners... pretty much anywhere that they are allowed to, and in high populated areas so they can find business. Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that these individuals stand for hours on end each day, asking people that walk buy if they would like to buy a newspaper, and I'm sure, everyday, they get some of the same responses that we got-- people who are excited and happy to help and will buy the paper, and people who are not at all interested, and sometimes don't even acknowledge them. Today, through trying to get donations for the Agape Food Bank, we got a taste of this, but I cannot even imagine how it would be to do that everyday. The strength that they have to keep going and keep pushing on, even when they do have rough days, is tremendous. As I thought about that while looking at the clock today, I quickly tried to change my perspective and remember that through the work we are doing we are serving God, serving others, and have the opportunity to see the face of Jesus through all of it.

--Chelsea M.