Service and Community
Last year, I wrote an article on this same subject. But the truth is, the role each of us plays in building a stronger community is too important to only revisit once. So, consider this a bit of intentional repetition as a reminder to keep service and community action at the top of our priorities.
Some time ago, I read two books that stayed with me: “Something Needs to Change: An Urgent Call to Make Your Life Count” by David Platt, and “When We Walk By” by Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burns. Both challenge the reader to see the world through the eyes of those who are struggling. Platt takes us into remote villages in the Himalayas, while Adler and Burns bring the focus much closer to home, examining homelessness in our own cities. Though the settings differ, the message is the same: each of us must take an honest look at ourselves and the role we play – not just in the world, but right here in our own communities.
For many years, hardship felt like something we saw from a distance on the evening news, in newspapers, or in magazines like Time and Life. Today, those challenges are no longer far away. We are seeing them more and more in our own backyard here in Milam County. In recent months, I’ve met with community leaders across our county and region to discuss issues like mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness. These are not abstract problems. They are present, growing, and deeply personal for many of our neighbors.
The weight of these issues can feel overwhelming. Yet, the reality is that they are not new. They have been with us for years and, in many cases, have intensified. As with most public challenges, solutions exist. The difficult part is not identifying what needs to be done, it is having the resolve to follow through. And that is where each of us comes in.
I’ve written before about service and about the need for people willing to step forward, whether in elected office or simply as engaged citizens. Most of us have a sense of what could help. The question is whether we are willing to act? How many of us are prepared to be the person who steps up? Service doesn’t always mean taking on something large or highly visible. It might look like volunteering at a food pantry, checking in on a neighbor, supporting a local effort, or simply choosing to be present where there is need.
Honestly, this is not meant to be a guilt-driven message. I fall short in this area more often than I would like to admit. But I do believe many of the challenges we face as a society are tied, at least in part, to a broader drift away from responsibility, connection, and purpose. While not everyone is called to stand like Isaiah and say, “Here I am—send me,” we should all be willing in spirit.
Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something. Each of us can take care of our own corner of the world: our families, our neighborhoods, our communities. And when enough people choose to do that, the impact reaches far beyond what any one person could accomplish alone.
Robert F. Kennedy spoke often and powerfully about service. He captured it best when he said, “Each time a man stands up for an ideal… he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope… and those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
We don’t all have to lead the charge. But we all should play a part.
