Today we worked hard at the Berkeley Food Pantry. I was reminded once again about what good people coming together to do good work can accomplish. We added two college students to our usual Wednesday crew today–they came to help us distribute the extra bag of groceries we will be giving out every week in November for Thanksgiving. There was such a good energy to the place, and even though it was a long, hectic and physically tiring day, we were able to serve over 70 families with grace and good humor. I am grateful to be able to work there, even if it is only once per week. As my job search has intensified each week, my colleagues at the Pantry are already lamenting my assumed eventual departure. I keep telling them that if I find a local job I will somehow finagle my work schedule so I can still volunteer on Wednesdays. One never knows how flexible an employer might be willing to be, especially if the work is as beneficial as the Food Pantry.
I have learned many things on my journey these past six months. One such thing is the simple beauty of volunteering. During times when I had more disposable income, I was able to give financially to a number of charities. Even over the past few years when my income was somewhat limited, I still found ways to send small contributions to my charities of choice. But giving a financial donation to a charity and actually volunteering at one are very different things. It makes the work of the charity so much more real if you’re actually on-site working. No matter where I end up being employed and how my schedule turns out, I will still find ways to physically volunteer. For now, I’m content to be working with the good folks at the Berkeley Food Pantry distributing groceries to members of our community. I am grateful to be able to serve.
I had hoped to be able to participate in a portion of the Occupy Oakland general strike today, but was pretty exhausted after the long afternoon at the pantry. A number of the leaders from the East Bay Meditation Center, where I’ve been learning about and engaging in meditation practice, planned to lead at least two meditation sittings in solidarity with the peaceful, non-violent social justice movement Occupy Oakland. They suggested that those of us who couldn’t make it downtown to Oakland could still sit in meditation from wherever we were. For me, that was sitting in my car in front of my friend’s house some 20 miles away. I did a brief 15-20 minute meditation, offering loving-kindness and support to the thousands of folks who gathered in various locations downtown and at the Port of Oakland.
There are many ways to be involved in the work for social and economic justice. We each find our own ways to enter in. As I watched some of the news coverage of the people gathered, marching in the streets, a part of me wanted to be there, marching in solidarity with others. As I reflected on that a bit more deeply, I had to acknowledge that at least part of me thought it would be cool to be down there, to be part of the energy of what was happening, to be able to say, “Yeah, I was there Occupying Oakland.” I recognized and remembered that part of me that wants to be seen and acknowledged for being a part of the important work. There is a fairly noticeable bit of ego in that desire to be seen. I am not berating myself about it, just noticing.
I am not sure if/when I will go to join in with some of the Occupy movement–they are situated in various places within a 100 mile radius of here. Perhaps I will find my way there, or perhaps I will find other ways to advance social and economic justice that are more aligned with my more introverted ways. In any event, whether it’s working on Wednesday afternoons at the Berkeley Food Pantry or marching in solidarity with protesters, or sitting in meditation extending compassion, love and peace to the community and world, I am grateful for the many opportunities to serve that exist all around me. I look forward to finding new ways to give. May we all be peaceful and happy, safe and protected, strong and healthy, and live with ease and well-being.
