{"id":26209,"date":"2011-03-08T11:28:25","date_gmt":"2011-03-08T11:28:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/community\/theanchoress\/?p=26209"},"modified":"2017-03-08T23:58:47","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T23:58:47","slug":"serving-something-greater-than-the-self","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/theanchoress\/2011\/03\/08\/serving-something-greater-than-the-self\/","title":{"rendered":"Serving Something Greater than the Self"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This past weekend our family got<\/strong> a kind some reinforced instruction on how the smallest acts of generosity can sometimes have surprising, even life-changing impacts on others, and both lessons came thanks to the Boy Scouts of America<\/strong><\/a>:<\/p>\n

Danny, with 52 merit badges on his sash and a scouting resume that truly was<\/em> exceptional, even for an Eagle, began his prepared remarks by saying, \u201cI didn\u2019t know he would be here today, but that just makes this speech all the better, because I am going to begin by telling you that one of the biggest reasons I stand before you tonight as an Eagle is because of Buster.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the last night of camp, Buster and Mick did a great Blues Brothers routine with black suits and fedoras and when it was over, Buster gave me his sunglasses. It sounds silly, but that meant so much to me; it meant that someone I really admired thought I totally belonged where he<\/em> was. I\u2019ve brought those cheap sunglasses back to camp with me, every year since; they\u2019ve reminded me of who and what I wanted to become\u2014the guy who makes everyone else feel welcome and at ease, and is kind to the kids who hang back.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/blockquote>\n

And, then, two days later,<\/strong> at the wake of an assistant scoutmaster:<\/p>\n

. . .the rooms were overflowing with scoutmasters and their wives, and with the scouts who kept coming, and coming; young men who had long-since left behind their sashes and medals and the external trappings of the Boy Scouts, but who carried within them the values they had learned and internalized though the influence of this man, who would be surprised to hear that his small jokes and warm demeanor had modeled another side of manhood for so many. Our elder son was not the only scout to travel from out-of-state\u2014in torrential rains\u2014to pay his respects for an hour or so, and to tell a grieving wife and son, \u201cYes, he mattered. His life mattered to me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

St. Terese of Lisieux knew it<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 many great philosophers have known it \u2014 but it is a lesson we must learn over and over again: great acts of heroism<\/strong><\/a> and art are great,<\/em> and they are meaningful contributions to the world. But it is the small stuff, the tiny acts of common kindness and consolation, that make the days bearable, and keep our fractured humanity stable through these underpinnings of grace \u2013 these sparkles from the wheel<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

William Carlos Williams wrote:<\/p>\n

so much depends
\n upon
\n a red wheel
\n barrow
\n glazed with rain
\n water
\n beside the white
\n chickens.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I say, so much depends upon a man willing to flip 400 pancakes, and a teen willing to hand off a pair of sunglasses to a kid who wants to belong, and I ponder it all \u2014 and the meaning of the plethora of vulgar reality shows and \u201cfamous for being famous\u201d cult of celebrity our culture supports \u2014 over at First Things<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Related:
\nHomeless man finds envelope with $1400;<\/strong> turns it in to the police<\/strong><\/a> because he knows what it is \u201cto go without. It could be someone\u2019s rent money\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This past weekend our family got a kind some reinforced instruction on how the smallest acts of generosity can sometimes have surprising, even life-changing impacts on others, and both lessons came thanks to the Boy Scouts of America: Danny, with 52 merit badges on his sash and a scouting resume that truly was exceptional, even […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[4885,537],"class_list":["post-26209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-buster","tag-parenting","tag-scouting"],"yoast_head":"\nServing Something Greater than the Self<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This past weekend our family got a kind some reinforced instruction on how the smallest acts of generosity can sometimes have surprising, even\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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