I have had a couple of those really intense Ballard days where I always come away having been touched deeply. The first was last Friday. Target employees, fifteen of them, decended upon Ballard and our Mount Hope site to work. When I say work, I mean these guys absolutely worked fast and furious and did so much general maintenance work in a few hours for our organization that I was speechless. They came bearing supplies, stamina, people and smiles and it was heartwarming. I tried to go and take pictures and in some instances it was difficult because they were all over the place! We had volunteers painting our little red train, power spraying the toddler playground equipment, cleaning weeds out of the chain link fence, cementing rocks in the front of the building, planting grass seed, you name it, they were all over it. They were all so pleasant and seemed genuinely happy to be here. It was one of those moments when you feel a debt of gratitude beyond words. I left on Friday afternoon in awe of all that they had done. We even had some volunteers that had been up all night working at Target and yet they came to Ballard to make a difference for us and our children. Thank you Target for being so supportive and reaching out to us, you made a very big difference at Ballard Community Services on Friday, May 6th.....you have amazing workers at your Lawrence facility and we are very, very grateful. Our children love their bright red train all freshly painted!
Thank you Target Volunteers!
The second experience that I had involved spending an evening with an incredible group of individuals who spend years of their lives participating in an organization that gives back in many different ways to communities all over the world, the Masonic Lodge. I spent Monday evening, May 9th, with Masonic Lodge #6 in Lawrence. It was their annual awards ceremony. It was fascinating to see a gentleman honored for 65 years of service to the Mason's, two gentleman for 50 years of service and another who entered the "Diamond" philanthropic level for his donations to the Masonic Foundation. As I sat and listened to each of their stories I was touched and moved that there is an organization, rich with history and ceremony, who motivates not only their members to belong for 65, 50, 40, 20 years and so on down the line, but GENERATIONS of families who also participate for the same periods of time.
As I sat there waiting to be called for our presentation, I kept looking around the room and I couldn't help but wonder what would happen to organizations like this one? Will they survive in the face of the digital age, in a time where personal meetings and gatherings really do not exist anymore. In this day and age, where we tend to gather via Facebook,Twitter and social media sites? What will happen to the personal stories of serving in a World War and being wisked off by other Masonic brothers to talk about the organization they belong too? What will happen to the stories of those who sponsored their sons for membership, of the Mounted Horse Patrol and the other parade units of the Masonic Lodge? It made me a bit sad actually to think that future generations may never know about volunteering and participating for 65, 50, or 40 years of their lives to a cause they truly believe in.
I watched these gentleman receiving their certificates and their pins and I felt guilty for not being present in the moment as I was yet again analyzing a situation instead of just enjoying the process; the beauty of the pomp and circumstance of the ritual they were performing. It is quite something. As I watched the "Grand Master" talking with the dapper gentleman receiving his 65 year pin, I heard personal questions about experiences with the Mason's dating back to the 1940's. I watched this man stand a bit straighter, heard him answer with Masonic and Military pride and in that moment I realized that the only reason I had the priviledge of being at that place, in that moment, was because of the Masonic philosophy of engaging in community philanthropic work and their decision to choose Ballard to receive a sizeable donation. I was humbled and I was honored to represent BCS. As the local lodge Master talked about why they were giving and why they had chosen Ballard, I once again felt blessed to be part of an organization that is recognized as making a difference in our community, to be part of an organization that continuously benefits from the hard work and generosity of others.
I came away without a picture (although they promised to send me one which I will post here upon receipt - assuming that I did not break the camera that is!) but I did walk away with incredible memories of my evening spent with the Masonic Lodge #6 of Lawrence, Kansas. Thank you gentleman. You have made a very big difference in the lives of children and families and on one very humbled Ballard Director.
