Issue link: http://maconmagazine.uberflip.com/i/122656
editorial Finding PEACE. EDITOR'S NOTE: Timothy Lewis is a senior at Howard High School. He is senior class president, Beta Club president, teaches Cotillion and works at Chick-fil-A. He is one of three finalists in the Rotary Clubs of Macon High School Speech Competition. After hearing his presentation at a club meeting, we wanted to share it with our readers. There I was, sitting on top of a concrete wall, sweat rolling down my face, pouring pounds of concrete into the molds that I was told would soon turn into a home. It was there that I finally realized the effect just 20 people could have on these families that had been living in squalor. I couldn't believe it. In one, hot, summer El Salvadorian week, serving could provide a place to live for a family of five. During that hot week in El Salvador, we didn't just build a house. We gave a family peace. Peace is not only stopping wars and fights. Peace is also a state of mind. Peace is comfort. Peace is someone who cares. Peace is dinner on the table. Peace is a home. That week, we didn't stop the violent gang wars in El Salvador, we didn't stop fighting all around the globe, and we didn't even stop the arguing about where we would eat dinner that night! But we did give a family somewhere to live. There is no question about it - we gave them a sense of peace. It is easy to be overwhelmed when we think about peace through service. When asked what they would wish for, many people answer, "world peace," which would make many of us just roll our eyes. For peace seems like this larger-than-life concept that is just out of our grasp. Service can seem this way too. How can I really make a difference in the world? How can I really change people's lives? Too often we think about peace and service on a global scale. This can make both seem like insurmountable tasks. I like to think of service as a simple act of helping others. You serve when you hold the door open for others, when you smile at someone having a bad 12 l Macon Magazine day. Serving is visiting with people who are lonely. Through these seemingly simple acts of service, we are bringing peace to others. A few summers ago, I went to Boston on a mission trip to serve at a senior citizens' home. Most of the week, we visited with the residents, and, yes, in case you were wondering, we even played some bingo! One day I met Barbara. She asked me to help her clean her apartment and just visit with her. For the remainder of the week she joined in our group activities. We visited a lot and by the end of the week became really close. I still smile every time I remember her. Just through the simple act of visiting with her, I brought Barbara peace. You don't have to go all the way around the world to provide peace through service. You don't have to travel to El Salvador, solve world hunger or end all wars. But it is important to do what you can do. It could just be a simple smile, it could be donating canned foods, it could be donating time to mentor children after school, it could be building a house here in Macon. If everyone did something as simple as donating a couple of cans of food, or give some of their time, or share a smile- if everyone did this made a difference in individuals lives, well, that's a whole lot of peace. You talk, we listen! Follow us on Social Media! april/MAy 2013