The joy of serving others

The recycling bin slalom of Clacton

I was walking to the gym the other day, and I noticed the wind had blown four recycling containers into the road. 

Usually, I would grab the boxes and put them back onto the pavement. But as I noticed one car weaving in and out of the boxes, I wanted to see how many more cars would do the same. 

With great amusement, I witnessed four drivers slow to a near halt so they could weave their way through the four recycling containers. Each driver took about 15 to 20 seconds to weave through the slalom of boxes. Four cars multiplied by the 17.5 seconds average = 70 seconds in total.   

Then came a Good Samaritan. 

This person got out of their car, grabbed all four boxes, and placed them outside the houses they had blown from. It took him about 20 seconds. 

Whilst this might seem menial, it felt emblematic of a broader societal observation, namely, the contrast of four people looking after their interests (not getting out of the car) versus one person doing the 'selfless thing' of fixing the problem.  

I certainly don't judge the slalom drivers. After all, who knows what was happening to them at that moment? Neither do I hold the Good Samaritan in some holy light. Though I did note the joy, it brought him and the good it did for others.

Which is why it feels like a strong metaphor for how we build a better world.   

Each day we are presented with countless opportunities to do something positive for the whole. It could be holding doors open for others, smiling at strangers, giving up our seats, putting our arm around someone struggling, picking up litter, or removing recycling boxes from the road! 

I dare not think of the times I have not been a Good Samaritan! Unfortunately, I too often choose to do the easy thing, not the right thing. Yet life is so much more enriching when we serve others. Small acts of kindness compound positively affect how our world feels. The same works in reverse. 

The world feels increasingly manic to me. And the evidence shows that we are seeing a great degeneration within our communities. But it doesn't have to be this way. Whilst the required solutions are many; we can begin with the small act of slowing down to give that little bit more to serving others. And there's great joy in doing that. 

Thanks for reading and take care,

Benjamin 

(June 2022)