They Make A Difference

I’ve noticed that we all seem to have a favorite cause.

Usually there is an important issue that touches us more than others and motivates us to take action…or at least talk about taking action.

For some it’s women’s shelters or soup kitchens for the homeless.  For others it’s teenage gangs and drug wars or education against violence.

There are so many great causes, which one touches your heart?

This week I found myself in some classrooms with teenage kids from villages and towns of marginalized communities.

I was asked to do some storytelling with these kids with limited English language skills. Despite being quite terrified (if truth be told) of being in a classroom with 25 sixteen year olds, it was challenging AND a fantastic experience.

They rotated the kids around various activities so I would get a group who would then move on to the next place.

One of the groups was particularly large and I noticed that one girl, who had been in another group earlier in the day, had come back again.  I was surprised; she had seem completely disengaged earlier on.

I began to tell one of the stories, usually a favorite.  Half way through the story, at the part that was always riveting for the audience, I noticed that I had lost them.  They seemed to be looking at me but not quite.

Then I realized that the girl who had come back and was sitting beside me was doing a silent mimic of me.  The rest of the room were looking at her and trying not to laugh.

My first reaction was to be furious.  I wanted to throw her out. How dare she make me look so stupid.

But I paused, took a deep breath and managed to gather myself.

I turned to the girl beside me.  “I see we have another storyteller in the room, how wonderful”, I said and then I prompted her to continue to help me tell the story.

She hesitated but then joined me.

She did a great job!

I realized, as soon as I could quiet my ego, she was the person that needed the story more than anyone else.  She was there for a reason and it was a big lesson for me.

As we spend time and energy giving what we feel we can, we also need to be aware of those that truly need us.  It’s not always the people you expect.  And often it comes at us in less desirable ways.

Everyone needs stories.  Not just for entertainment, to pass the time or to make us feel good.  Sometimes, we need stories to survive.

I don’t know that girls’ story, I have no idea why she needed to hear mine.  But she did.  And she is not alone.

Tell the stories that are needed most;  tell the stories that make a difference.

Go on, it’ll do the world of good!