Eventful Day

Have you ever driven past a construction site and noticed all the workers in neon orange and yellow staring at the lone person whose actually completing a task? Generally, I think "Well, there are my tax dollars at work...kind of." I've always had a hard time understanding why people watch while others work. I'm more of a doer. I just jump right in.

But today I got caught up. I did not have the flashy yellow vest or the protective hard hat, but I stood, hands on hips and watched as others worked.

Fred and Danny, two of our truck drivers, picked up a shipment of table tops that we needed to get off the truck. It's important to know the history of table tops at the Furniture Bank. Several years ago we received a donation of beautiful table tops...about 200 of them. Notice I say table tops, not tables. The struggle with these beautiful table tops is that we have no bases for them. Over the last six months, various volunteer groups have been building bases for them, yet there are still so many. Needless to say, no one is ecstatic about more table tops around the warehouse.

Back to Fred and Danny - They stacked all the table tops on the truck and gently positioned the pallet jack. As the rain poured, Fred geared up to pull it off the truck several times and aside from some grumbling from the pallet jack nothing happened. Yet we all stood, enthralled by the grumbling of this machine and Fred's earnest effort. The crowd gathered, several volunteers and myself. We stood and watched.

I hope, as it is for me, that standing by while others work, is a rare occasion for you. Instead of seeing a need and gawking and adding our expert commentary, let's jump in and help. Sorry Fred. Next time I'll dig in buddy.