To Have A Purpose

One of the most important lessons that I learned this last week was one of basic human nature. I don’t think that it matters if you are an Al-Queda terrorist, a catholic priest, or a biker at Sturgis, all human beings crave to be valued and appreciated by their peers. The second and somewhat intrinsically linked desire is to feel useful, to feel as if your work actually counts for something, and you have a purpose in what you are doing.

The first thought was sparked while I was out in a rural community sitting in on one of the loan meetings with Eliseo, one of our loan officers. As these women struggled to make their loan payments on time, as well as show up to the meetings, one of the women (who was clearly a leader and forward thinker in the group) suggested that Esperanza do something to make the women feel important. She suggested giving a flower, anything really. Emphasizing that it had nothing to do with how large the gift itself was, what mattered was that these women saw that our organization truly cared for who they are, they meant something more to us than “just a loan”, and these women were crying out to be reaffirmed and cared for by someone. I think that that is a pretty good life lesson, give flowers. The small things that we do for someone to let them know that someone cares for them and appreciates who they are, I think, is not only gratifying to the giver, but will make a world of difference in the lives of the receiver who is getting more than just a small token of friendship, but a feeling of self-worth, affirmation, and whole new respect for the giver. Give Flowers.

The second inherent desire that I mentioned was the need to feel purposeful in our lives and particularly in our vocation too. Now, I say that never really having had a “real job” for more than several months, but as I reflect upon my experiences there are countless examples of this very concept.

My time last week with the dental clinic is an example that is particularly fresh in my mind. I spent the morning entertaining children, organizing adults into a line and carrying out my role as the photographer of the waiting area. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this. These are some of the endless details that have to be done for this kind of project to work and a wonderful opportunity to try and “serve the least of these” albeit through making them laugh or just bringing cups of fresh drinking water. However, in the back of my mind I couldn’t help but ask myself if I was really being as effective as possible. After pouring tens of thousands of dollars into a college education, raising support to travel thousands of miles, I found myself feeling as if some of those resources were going to waste as I did menial tasks that really could have been done by most anyone.

I’m not saying this attitude is right, but it’s what I felt. And what I was really searching for, I believe, was something to make me feel special, to feel like I was needed, and the making the clinic run smoother. I was longing to feel as if I was needed to make things work. It wasn’t until I was given the honor of holding a light and snipping stitches for the doctor that my desires were fulfilled. Or as I got to look into the patients mouths and send them to the appropriate dentist/hygienist, that is when I felt as if I was making a difference. Now, really, none of those tasks were really that difficult, nor were they things that anyone with a sixth grade education could not have done. But what is important is that I “felt” a whole new purpose. I was charged with a new energy and excitement about my work there, my confidence increased, and I think my Spanish even started flowing a little smoother, kinda weird.