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Recently
I was shopping in a local department store and the salesperson asked me,
“Can I answer any questions for you?” Trying to be a funny I replied,
“Sure . . . What is the meaning of life?” She laughed and said,
“Okay smarty, I’ll tell you.” She walked over to me and lightly
touched my arm, looked me straight in the eye and said in a very
comforting tone, “Helping others through it.”
Most of us have beliefs and faith that answer the “What is the meaning
of life?” question. But this woman gave one of best sermons I have
ever heard, with just four words, "Helping others through it.”
Okay, I admit it. I’m a sucker for human interest stories. And even more
for those involving charities. Most philanthropists are never recognized
for their work and maybe that is appropriate. But there are some formal
recognitions designed to honor philanthropists and this week I read a
story of two women who won such a prize. Well, I guess they won the “Big
Kahuna” of them all (that’s a technical term, by the way, meaning an
important one). They were winners of the nation's top award for community
service. They received the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Award for Greatest
Public Service Benefiting Local Communities, the Jefferson Award.
The
Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. National
award recipients represent a "Who's Who" of outstanding
Americans. Winners include three Supreme Court Justices, eight U.S.
Senators, six Secretaries of State, eleven Cabinet Officers and three
former First Ladies. On the local level, Jefferson Award recipients are
ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of
recognition or reward. These two women certainly did not do what they did
for recognition or reward, but simply out of the desire to help others.
The
author of the article I read wrote that these two women were “drawn by
an invisible magnet, they were pulled irresistibly together until they
were touching . . . One came from central Oregon, the other from central
New Jersey. Their backgrounds were so different and yet so much alike. “
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Photos by Crystal
Peaks Youth Ranch |
Out of 77
nominees, the author saw these two women drawn to each other (before
winning the award) and seemed a bit surprised how close these two women
became, havening previously never met. They certainly were from two very
different walks of life. One is from a ranch in Oregon and the other is
from central New Jersey and has never sat on a horse.
Yet they
were instantly connected, like two peas in a pod.
Rev.
Alice C. Parker is a driving force behind the Lifeline Emergency Shelter
and Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and works with inner city youth in New
Jersey. Kim Meeder and her husband founded Crystal Peaks Youth
Ranch, a non-profit program using rescued horses to work with troubled
teens.
Like most
people who have dedicated their life to community service, both have had
hardships in their own live. Rev. Parker had a major stroke and 12 mini
strokes that have left her blind, but not without her vision of caring for
others.
Kim
Meeder's early introduction to horses was after the tragic death of her
parents in a murder-suicide, which she has written about in her book
"Hope Rising". The book contains many stories of the impact of
horses in peoples lives. Now Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch is a refuge for
many youth and horses, thanks to Kim and her husband, Troy.
Both
women were brought together to be honored, but they immediately bonded and
began planning joint ventures of compassion. The idea quickly arose of
bringing the New Jersey youth to the Oregon ranch, as a reward for better
grades. It was fun to read and I could easily visualize these two minds
going to work on ideas to help others, as if they don’t already have
enough to do.
When I
talked to Kim she said she really looks forward to working with Rev.
Parker in the future. “Thinking of what she has done for kids, brings me
to tears. I am humbled to stand shoulder to shoulder with her,” said Kim
Meeder speaking of Rev. Parker.
The
Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch will not be overwhelmed with its visitors from
the east coast, as they currently have approximately 4 to 5 thousand
visitors per year. With 25 horses and this many visitors, it is a
busy place.
Kim
Meeder was quoted saying, “Someone more wise than I said, ‘You might
be just one person in this world, but to one person you just might be the
world.’”
I
want to stand and applaud both of these women for their compassion and
hard work and the award they have received. But they know their reward is
greater than applause or recognition. It is a purpose in life beyond their
own needs, which provides them with the pleasure and reward of helping
others.
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Copyright Garry
Stauber © 2004 All rights reserved. The above article is
the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in
any way without permission. Visit Garry on-line at Dream Adventures.
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