Too Few Pictures of GCC's 2014 Food Drop

 

"There is no more contemptible type of human character than that of the nerveless sentimentalist and dreamer who spends his life in a weltering sea of sensibility and emotion, but who never does a concrete deed." 

(William James, from The Principles of Psychology, Volume 1. originally published in 1890.)

 

I wonder if GOD’s admonition to “be strong and courageous,” is less about extreme, intense, shocking YouTube-worthy feats, and more about the day-to-day actions of ordinary heroes that will never get a million VIEWS on YouTube.

I’m sure the jaw-dropping exploits, of YouTube's one-in-a-billion individuals, require courage. These are the actions those rare and courageous folks whom corporate sponsors line-up to finance so they can put a logo on their helmets, handlebars or hides.

I’m also sure enormous courage is required every time an ordinary person knows doing the right thing carries a hefty Price Tag ... and they do the right thing anyway.

Courage isn’t always your ticket to fame and fortune but it is always your ally when doing the right thing means taking action as Fear threatens to stop you in your tracks.

Fear is a monster.

I’ve met some grievously wounded single parents who fear they’re going to lose their minds, their friends, their homes and their happiness as they pick up the pieces of their broken family and raise their kids. It takes a lot of courage for a single parent to do the hard work of raising a child.

I’ve met girls who fear their boyfriends will dump them if they don’t sleep with them. They need courage to maintain their integrity, whether their boyfriends break-up with them or not.

I’ve met students who fear the promise of future success (resulting from a life of courage, honesty, hard work, kindness, diligence, integrity, faith and discipline) won’t be worth years of rejection by the cool-kids who decide who’s “in” and who’s “out” (based on a criteria of athletic prowess, physical beauty, family wealth, flirtatious sexual intrigue and the ability to leverage a magnetic personality for increased social status). It takes courage to stay home and study for your final exams when everyone who's anyone is going out to party all weekend.

Some fear they will fail. It takes courage to try anyway.

• "What if this new business doesn't make it? Will people think I'm a failure?"
• "If I do this studio recording and no one buys my music, what then?"
• "If I try this and fail, I'll never be able to show my face around here again."
• "Uproot my family and move to take a new job? What if I lose that job too?"

Some fear they will succeed. It takes courage to accept the fearsome burdens of increased responsibility that significant accomplishments always bring.

• "What if we actually do have a baby? Oh, oh. What then?"
• "If this new business grows, how will we build new production facilities?"
• "If I make the team, won't I lose all my free-time after school?"
• "If I get this promotion, will we need to move? What will that do to my family? What will that do to my marriage?"
• "Ugh. If we get this house, how will we afford maintenance and utilities?"

Every-day-heroes courageously step forward to do the next right thing, in-spite of their fears. Courage is about doing what matters, even when the Price Tag is fearsome and high.

I saw courage in the people of GCC when Fear whispered, “You don’t have enough money to give any of it way. You won’t be able to make a difference. Poor people should get a job and buy their own food. Why give your money away when you don’t have enough for yourself?”
In recent months, GCC’ers courageously gave their money to buy provisions for hungry people anyway.

I saw courage in the people of GCC when Fear taunted, “It’s cold. The wind is blowing the snow sideways. More than a hundred Michiana churches have already cancelled their weekend services. Are you crazy? Nobody is going to show up for the Food Drop. You’ll end up having to do all the work. You’ll be the only one there. You’ll never get those trucks loaded. Stay home and drink hot-chocolate by the fire.”
Ten days ago, GCC’ers braved the cold and courageously delivered food to 8,000 families anyway.

Feeding hungry people may not qualify for consideration as a YouTube worthy exploit. And a picture on my little blog doesn't bring YouTube fame. But the heroes of GCC's Food Drop helped thousands of Michiana's struggling poor ... and that's worth more than a million VIEWS on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

     

 

My deepest gratitude goes
to our wonderful Partners
in GCC's 2014 Food Drop.

IRBEN Foodservice Sales & Distribution

Northern Indiana Food Bank

Feed the Children

Dunkin' Donuts

The Eatery

Stanz Foodservice

ServePro 

 

 

     

 

 My appreciation goes to our elected representatives
for their enouragement last Saturday.

Senator Joe Donnelly

Congresswoman Jacki Walorski

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

Joshua 1:7 (Expanded)  -  Be strong and ·brave [courageous; resolute]. Be sure [careful] to obey all the ·teachings [law] my servant Moses ·gave [commanded] you. If you follow them exactly [do not turn from it to the right or to the left], you will be successful in everything you do.