Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Back at School; Remembering Service!

Promptly upon return to this beautiful campus, the craziness of Bucknell descends. The lull of summer flees as excitement for the new year reaches a peak, old friends pour into dorms, and you swear this year is going to be even better than the last one. Only two days in and clubs begin year long planning, professors assign work with a fury, meetings pile on, greek life dives into rush, and suddenly your google calendar is a stressful mess of colored time blocks. In the midst of over-committment, excitement, and a campus full of friends, it is very easy to forget about the world beyond the Bucknell Bubble. Community service and volunteer work become another thing on the to-do list, another way to feel good about yourself, another thing in the way of the weekend. Your scope becomes completely absorbed with yourself--your friends, your classes, your activites, your schedule. The hurt and despair of others seems far away and any desire to truly serve those in need fades in the face of the Bucknell grind.

There are some experiences at Bucknell, however, that break through the bubble. Community Harvest is one of them.

Each week, four or five Bucknell students meet at the Milton United Methodist Church to set up tables and hundreds of chairs, put out silverware and napkins, and cut bread. Preparation can seem slow, even tedious, and the students are always tired. But this is what service is. It is not picturesque or extraordinary. Service is so often the small, unnoticed things done for others-- an idea so easily forgotten amidst the dramatic nature of university life.

The volunteer group for the week pours in, final preparations are made, and then the community members arrive. The need of these people is so clear in dress, walk, hygeine, health, and countenance; toil and grief is clearly written on their faces. And yet, there is something very beautiful here. As everyone chats while standing in line for hot drinks, there is a powerful strength and joy seen in every story of trial and pain, trials I have never dreamed of experiencing. And these stories do not stand alone; the community here is real. Everyone's stories, joys, hurts, and struggles are known and the support here is deep and transparent. The meal is ready and the Bucknell students and volunteers begin to serve one table at a time. As students sit to eat with the community, it is clear that the Bucknell students are not simply here to fulfill community service hours or flesh out a resume; they are part of this community. They love these people, and the people clearly love them back. Updates and support are easily exchanged as meatball subs and baked beans are enjoyed. How is Kim dealing with her dad's recent death, did Danielle enjoy Denmark, Bary made it back safely from his trip to see his sick mother, when is Jude's cast coming off, how is Sue doing with paying her rent, is there anything we can do for Margaret this week, how did Garyn's test go, Carly is making it through rush. There is no shame here. Life is hard, struggles are real, joy is constant, faith never fails-- and all this is to be shared and bore together. This open and honest dialogue is not experienced on Bucknell's campus.

And this dialogue, it seems, is the heart of community harvest. Yes, some students set up chairs and prepare food to give others. But at the table, it is all equal. We are all living life, with each other, holding each other up in whatever way we can. These people want to share their past despairs as much as they want to know and help you through your current ones. I am astonished at these people's strength, hope, and dedication. I am encouraged by their faith. I am reminded of how much joy there is to receive in all situations. Their stories ask me why it is that I live--the answer that extends far beyond grades, success, fun, and career. It is interesting-- the moment you focus simply on serving others and not building your resume or self worth is the very moment that you find yourself being served by those you came to serve.