The defining moment in my life that shifted the way I was thinking...and brought me to ubuntu.
Great question. Tough to answer.
In the sense of living and breathing and working and playing.
I just came home from the final Steering Committee meeting for Habitat for Humanity Winnipeg's first rural project, a duplex for two families in town here. I am full of courageous spirit and words of perseverance and faith.
It got me thinking that it's not so often that we get to see a project, that has now spanned fifteen months, come to fruition. To the final goal. Two families, right now at this moment, sit inside warm, cozy houses with roofs over their head, kitchens for dining and rooms in which they can share and laugh with their children. Their children will grow up knowing that they are enough and that there's nothing that they cannot do if they set their mind to it. Their parents have contributed 350+ hours to their communities within one year. They, just like each of our volunteers, have come to know hard work, dedication and tenacity in seeing a project through. The community was brought together towards a common goal, as it was shown so candidly today as our Committee heads went through their reports of all the donations of food, time and love that were given to this project.
After giving my committee report, one member said a few words that I don't need to share, but that almost had me bursting into tears. Another motioned to send me to a HFH conference that is happening in Regina in March - on the one weekend that I could potentially go. Little does this committee know that it was their stamina, determination and confidence that inspired me every. single. day. The average age of this committee is likely 50 years or older. And for four months, some of them turned out each and every morning to hammer, paint, shovel, shingle, carry, cook, sweat, and do whatever else was required in order for their house to be built. We all had bad days, but overall the days were good. Great even. And each of us carried the others through the dark ones until the sun began to look shiny again.
You've heard: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Now I know for sure with the odd 14 or so of us tonight that its true. What we set out to do last November, we achieved. And for two families, life did change. I'd consider that success.
It got me thinking that it's not so often that we get to see a project, that has now spanned fifteen months, come to fruition. To the final goal. Two families, right now at this moment, sit inside warm, cozy houses with roofs over their head, kitchens for dining and rooms in which they can share and laugh with their children. Their children will grow up knowing that they are enough and that there's nothing that they cannot do if they set their mind to it. Their parents have contributed 350+ hours to their communities within one year. They, just like each of our volunteers, have come to know hard work, dedication and tenacity in seeing a project through. The community was brought together towards a common goal, as it was shown so candidly today as our Committee heads went through their reports of all the donations of food, time and love that were given to this project.
After giving my committee report, one member said a few words that I don't need to share, but that almost had me bursting into tears. Another motioned to send me to a HFH conference that is happening in Regina in March - on the one weekend that I could potentially go. Little does this committee know that it was their stamina, determination and confidence that inspired me every. single. day. The average age of this committee is likely 50 years or older. And for four months, some of them turned out each and every morning to hammer, paint, shovel, shingle, carry, cook, sweat, and do whatever else was required in order for their house to be built. We all had bad days, but overall the days were good. Great even. And each of us carried the others through the dark ones until the sun began to look shiny again.
You've heard: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
Now I know for sure with the odd 14 or so of us tonight that its true. What we set out to do last November, we achieved. And for two families, life did change. I'd consider that success.
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