Trash Clean up at NeighBEAR. Photo courtesy Kirsten Brown. |
Images from the
Gulf Coast oil spill of innocent sea creatures swamped in toxic tar
touch the heart strings of every American. We empathize with these
poor creatures whose homes have been contaminated, even destroyed—who
cannot move without facing a barrage of filth.
Yet while we can
claim empathy, can we go farther and claim sympathy as well? Judging
from what I saw this Saturday, we most certainly can. Walking around
the streets of Macon appalled me; heaps of trash were more common and
burdensome than the squirrels and roaches combined! I wondered how
people could care so much about the welfare of the Gulf life, without
stopping to consider the welfare of their own neighbors.
But some
neighbors—or should I say Neighbears—took action against the
trash epidemic. Over 350 Mercer students gathered together on
Saturday, September 15th, to clean the streets of Macon,
Georgia. They divided and they conquered, collecting endless trash
bags full of garbage.
These students did
not work for pride, glory, or recognition. They worked for community,
compassion, and the joy of serving others.
- Kirsten Brown
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