On Serving

I am in love with summer days, as I write. This one, in particular, that we happened upon. 

We've made Thursdays all summer our day of service, which means we simply and intentionally put a kind deed in love into action. Last week, we invited our friends to help us paint sun catchers to deliver to a local nursing home next week. 

Today, the week in between that particular service project, I was hoping to come up with something by the end of the day, but really hadn't a plan in hand. 

So we hopped in our SUV on an excursion, with a picnic lunch in toe, to explore a new park, the canyon, the deserted original town of Sheridan -- anything. 

One thing led to another and we found this delightful park in the small town north of our town, with a fishing pond, a dock and walking path around the pond. 

We found a picnic table, opened our cooler and nibbled on the turkey and cheese rolls, grapes and pretzels. We then walked over to the doc, where two girls and a boy, no older than ten, were fishing as though it was an everyday occurrence. They immediately pointed out to us the numerous fish and, every now and then, a turtle poking its head out of the water. 

After one girl announced to her brother and friend that they needed to get home, we took it as our cue to head toward the path and walk the short distance around it. 

And then, as though I had scoped the scene out the day before observing this to be the perfect site, we discovered the most meaningful element of our adventure.... 

 

And we collected every bit of garbage we spotted along that pond -- and in it, that we could reach with a stick. Surprisingly, there was quite a bit Tof trash that we would have never even noticed had we not begun looking for it. 

And that wrapped up our service project for the day. 

Of course, we didn't leave that small town without stopping at the ice cream stand, savoring doubles scoops of summer delight, and finally, leaving drunk with satisfaction.

Sharing with Saule Mama, Imperfect Prose, and Katherine's Corner