Red, white, and blue
the colors are draped,
over headstones of soldiers
who perished of late.

Much honor is due
to those who have died,
for freedom to all
in the States abide.

What then the news
we are to herald?
Is it waste and abuse,
or worse to carol?

The ability to choose
t'ween blessing or curse,
to help out mankind
wherein love disbursed.

Now make haste to do
the cry is present,
of actions to strive
and thoughts so urgent!

They call out to you
from lands far away,
to serve as they served
and freedom to stay.

To all who have served in the armed forces...thank you for keeping us free.

I have to admit that one of the best things about this adventure is Sundays. The reason this day is so special compared to the rest of the week is because I usually spend it traveling. While traveling to the next location, I have the option to stop and explore any roadside attraction I deem interesting.

On the way from Eugene, Oregon to Cathlamet, Washington, I decided to trek an hour out of the way to Multnomah Falls. These falls are the tallest in the state and have more than one million visitors a year. It is a free attraction (a big positive) and offered a challenging mile and a half hike to the top which was exactly what I was looking for.

After enjoying the landmark, I headed across the Columbia River and stayed for the night with some newfound friends (Jim & Deon). The next morning, they sent me on my way with best wishes and a stomach filled with berry cobbler. I made it to Puyallup, a city to the east of Tacoma, and burned the day making calls and updating the website. I also discover Big Foot Coffee, a twenty-four hour coffee haus, which had terrific teas and became my base of operations for the remainder of the week.

The holiday season was in full swing and I figured it would be appropriate for me to jump on the yuletide bandwagon and volunteer at a few organizations that seem to be identified with the yearly celebrations. One of these charities was the Salvation Army.

The bell ringers are everywhere this time of year and the money they collect in their iconic red kettles go to help people in the local community with financial aid, programs, and services to help those who are going through tough financial times. I contacted one of the agencies in Oregon but was turned down because they had already hired everyone for the week. It was a surprise to me to find out that not all the ringers are volunteers. After asking a few questions, I found out that they had been hiring out the position for quite a few years. They prefer volunteers but never have enough to cover all the locations. The plus side of this is that they create a lot of seasonal employment.

I did find success serving in Puyallup though. I figured I would be stationed at a Wal-mart or grocery store somewhere, but was delighted to find out my service was needed at the Victorian County Christmas. This big event was held at the Western Washington Fairgrounds and required all the personnel to be in turn-of-the-century costuming, being as close to authentic as possible.

It was cold outside, but I came prepared, dressing in as many layers as I could find (including my newly purchased long-Johns and thermal undershirt) and was also given a heavy cape and scarf, all a part of the costume. I found my station and started ringing the bell like there was no tomorrow. Quickly, I came to realize that this job was not as easy as I had first thought. Especially if you want to have a consistent ring for the entire four hours. I found my groove and never stopped unless I helped a person with the door. For all the effort, each kettle collected about forty-five dollars an hour.

I know there is still time left in the year to help ring those bells, so get out there and give your time and money to a quality charity.

The other festive volunteering I did was in cooperation with Treehouse for Kids. “Treehouse has filled the gaps for kids in foster care, providing services that no other agency addresses: money for extra-curricular activities and summer camp, professional educational support services, resources to fully participate in the everyday activities of growing up, clothing and supplies to help them fit in at school.” They make it so kids can be kids and that those children have hope for the future in the midst of uncertainty.

One of the ways they raise funds to provide these crucial services is by hosting the Holiday Carousel in the midst of downtown Seattle. It is free to ride but a suggested donation is advertised with proceeds going to the organization.

I was responsible for taking the tickets and to ensure the safety of the people getting onto the carousel. I met so many excited people. Many of whom had never ridden a merry-go-round before. Those were the most fun to talk to while they were waiting to jump on their favorite colored horse. Lots of people taking pictures, lots of couples (both young and old), lots of multiple riders, and a handful of street people.

One lady was having a terrible day. It was quite obvious so I asked if there was anything I could do to make her day. She said that she slept under a bridge the night before and that the rest of the day followed suit of just getting worse. I told her to take an extra spin on the carousel and that I'd share a hot dog from Seattle's best hot dog stand (conveniently located right next door). She had the time of her life and it was energizing to see a spark light up in her eyes again. Something magical indeed!

I had to say goodbye at the end of the evening, but I thoroughly wanted to come back to help out even more. If you live in the Seattle area, get involved with Treehouse for Kids. They have lots of events to be a part and even more great ways to serve.

Also, a huge kudos is due to my new friend Ebenezer. He had no idea who I was but was still willing to host me a few nights while I was in the area. Crazy story about how we got connected, but I'm sure glad we were able to cross paths.

I said goodbye to a beautiful state and moved on to an equally gorgeous state, Montana. See you there.

 

Yesterday, I woke up to the thermometer reading negative 26 degrees. I haven't experienced those kinds of temperatures since I lived in Minnesota . I forgot that the cold can really sting. I forgot that the weather can change drastically in an instant. I forgot that you don't sit next to the door in restaurants.

I just forgot that Jack Frost is still a formidable enemy.

If there is one thing the cold reminds me of, it is the need to help others during this time. Whether it be donating blankets, or helping a needy family with heating costs, or simply checking in with elderly neighbors - - all are deeply needed.

When it comes to helping others during the winter, I take my cues from Rich Besel, a friend of mine who has been helping his neighbors for years. One of Rich's neighbors, a kind, elderly woman, well into her nineties, was still living on her country acreage and needed help with snow removal. Since they were in rural Southwestern Minnesota, there was plenty of snow that needed to be pushed. Rich and another neighbor John saw the need and would take turns taking clearing her driveway after a winter storm.

He never charged a dime and did it because it was the right thing to do. After Rich's neighbor passed away, he found another neighbor who needed help and is doing snow removal for her too. Once again, he's doing it because he wants to.

I've always been an admirer of Rich's service-to-others lifestyle and saw a few patterns I thought worth mentioning.

3 Observations for Rich-style serving during the winter:

Be on the lookout for basic needs.

Helping others survive should be a default setting for humans, but sometimes we take for granted that everyone has those essentials and forget that there are people in need. If we live with our eyes open, purposefully looking to meet others needs, all it takes in acting on what you see and know is right.

Be faithful in duty.

When the decision is made to act, do it with a joyful spirit. Don't do something grudgingly. Feeling guilty is not a good reason to get involved. If the act is something that needs to be done more than once, figure out a way to do the task on a regular schedule. Ask others to join in if the situation allows.

Be willing to do the right thing for free.

Not everything in life needs to be done for profit. If you can do something for free, do it. The celebration of the soul is what matters. One will quickly find out what kind of person they are when there is no monetary reward. Besides, the currency found in building strong relationships will go far beyond anything money can buy.