My husband Russ and I just returned from the Kiwanis International Convention in Orlando, Florida. I know, I know, there are still people out there who think Kiwanis is just a bunch'a old guys sittin' around having lunch.....instead of realizing it is a dynamic, global organization of almost 600,000 volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child, and one community at a time. I joined Kiwanis in 1999, Russ has been a member since 1971. International estimates are that 150,000 service projects a year are completed by Kiwanians around the world, and it was deeply moving to see many of those highlighted at the convention. Rob Parker, CEO of Kiwanis International, told two stories I'd like to abbreviate and share with you.
The first, was about a young boy who played monopoly with his Grandmother every time he visited her. She was so good at the game, she always won. The boy practiced, and practiced, studied all the rules and tricks of the game. Sure enough, next time they played, the boy was the victor. As they were putting away the pieces, money and game board, the Grandmother spoke. "You did really well today. You won! But look at this...all the money you had, all the real estate holdings and railroads you owned, they all go back in the box. When all is said and done, everything goes back in the box, and all that you're left with is how you played the game."
That makes me think of the Beatles song from the Abbey Road album whose lyrics say, "...and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make."
The second story was a true tale about a lamplighter from London in the late 1800's. Back then, the major streets of London were illuminated with gas lamps, and it was his job to light them as night drew near. You could lean out a window overlooking the street below and watch as he climbed his ladder, lit the lamp, and went on to the next one. After a while, you couldn't see him anymore, but you could see where he'd been... by all the lights that were turned on.
In our own way, each one of us is like that lamplighter...you can tell where we've been by seeing the light left behind.
