May 12, 2009
I wouldn’t use the word “expect” when it comes to our service projects. I think that the words ‘hope’ or ‘anticipate’ better describe my feelings and thoughts about them. I hope that we can make changes that will last. I hope that we will help improve not only homes or parks or wetlands, but also people’s lives. I hope that through planting wetlands we will encourage others to do the same and maybe decrease the impact of the next storm that hits this city. I hope that in rebuilding the parks we will create places where children can play and feel safe from gangs and crime. I hope that in repairing homes we will help the owners feel more secure. I hope that we meet the people that we are helping in order to be changed in return.
I anticipate that we will get dirty, whether from mud or dirt or building materials. I anticipate that we will struggle in our step outside of the “Furman bubble” to understand the lives of the people we meet. I anticipate that we will work really hard and keel over from exhaustion at the end of the day. I anticipate that we will help the city keep improving and rising from the rubble of Katrina.
I feel as though ‘expect’ isn’t a word that fits. This city understands the words hope and anticipate, especially after Katrina. They understand hoping for help and anticipating a day when their city would be great again. Hopefully, we can help that along!
Savannah!
ReplyDeleteIn different valences, you and Sarah are on the same page with "expectations"! "This city understand the words hope and anticipate"--a wise observation, yes.
Yesterday when we were going to get groceries we talked about the Spanish word "esperanza" which means both "waiting" and "hope." In so many cases, waiting is a function of hope, and expectation really mires, weighs down, or neutralizes hope. But here, we are hope activated. We will not be waiting. Your blog post reminded me of that little conversation.
DB