Six weeks ago I was in a place where I hadn’t been in a long time. My sense of purpose walked out the door with my youngest child when he moved into his first apartment. I looked at life and asked the question, “What am I supposed to do now?”
Life did not say anything. Translated, that meant wait and see. Wait and see? I do not like wait and see. I’m the kind of person that googles the plot spoiler when the story is too suspenseful. What was I waiting to see?
Soon enough I saw there was more love and laughter to come. Berkley, a good friend, invited me to join her in a Habitat for Humanity project. Now, I spend my weekends with the most giving people I have ever met, caring about details I never would have conceived possible. And irony, the Habitat people are beating me at my own game. This is a summary of how the day transpired.
Habitat for Humanity leader: Today you are going to trim
Trish: I want to hang doors
Habitat for Humanity leader: O.k. that’ll work
The Habitat for Humanity leader teaches us how to hang doors and use the nail gun to connect the baseboards to the wall.
Trish: o.k.
Four hours later, on the drive home Jen and I realized they tricked us into trimming! That’s the kind of thing I do to my students. They are good, really good. And from what I have seen thus far, there is: a lot more for me to do, a lot more people who can use my help, a lot more chances to love, and a lot more chances to laugh.