A tribute to the good hearted people

You ever go to those “good news” pages on social media? Where instead of the normal barrage of truly terrible goings on, they devote space to what is happening in the world that is benevolent, hopeful, and inspiring? It’s amazing that we can have the perception that everything is truly falling apart, and yet, at the same time, lots of people are expressing clearly what it means to be a caring and thoughtful human being. 

Not to downplay the heart wrenching reality, and the importance of being informed about it, but there are other things going on. Good things. It really is just a matter of perception.

Today I wish to write about examples of people being the best of us. We started this sanctuary to help animals in need, and to be a place that embodies what the world could look like if we truly cared about ALL living things. 

In the process, we have come to learn something about the deep hearts of our fellow humans. I have heard someone describe charity work as a system where you throw out a net, and what you catch with it is human kindness. That tracks…

I can think of so many examples of this. I like to make the distinction between people being kind in a public way, where you get social approval for it. And in a private way, where you do it without public acknowledgment. Both are important  for sure, but with the latter you can see the purity of intention. 

When our last live-in workaway volunteer was ready to move on to the next adventure, he was concerned that he could not finish a project that was a gift to Kelly. It was repairing a bench that had gotten unstable. Despite best efforts, it wasn’t working to replace the damaged slats. We told him repeatedly that it could wait, that he should get out ahead of the incoming storm for his travels. But he would not leave until his promise had been fulfilled. He stayed an extra two days, missed the first leg of his journey, to insure that he could find a replacement bench for Kelly. I hear so much from my generation about young people lacking integrity and responsibility. I don’t buy it. The world is in safe hands with young people such as this…

Then there is a volunteer who comes here once a week, and more often when there is need. They work hard here. Do research to find ways to help with the burden of keeping all of our rescues fed. They are remarkably good hearted and solid. I get texts for every volunteer day  - “My eta is 8:17”. A level of communication that would humble a life coach. They also volunteer at a food bank, and have brought their associates here for a Friends’ Table event - showing them that care for animals can be added to their circle of compassion. I’ve had the good fortune to meet some very good people in my life. Few as good as this…

Our newest live-in volunteer is also a case study in kindness. They hope to study and report back on the ecology of our riparian zone, so we can know better how to be good stewards of this habitat. And they will be crocheting some decorative elements for our volunteer lodging - a way to leave something beautiful behind when it is time to move on. 

We put out a call for blankets, so our pigs can stay warm as the temps drop. One neighbor responded, I do not have blankets, but I’d like to support your work with a monthly donation. We threw out the net, and scooped up human kindness. 

Someone received a retirement account dividend, and just wrote it over to us. “Wasn’t expecting the money, you can use it more than I”

We’ve had items from our amazon wishlist show up anonymously. Somebody thought to give us a gift to help in our mission, and needed no recognition for it.

Sometimes we find buckets of lemons and avocados left by the front gate. Footprints of thoughtful neighbors. 

We’ve had family members drive 5 hours roundtrip, just to show up and work hard under a blazing sun to erect fences here. Giving up a weekend day  that could have been spent relaxing from the week’s labors. 

Recently we had to move a duck house, far too heavy to lift. My friend asked one of the men working next door, who didn’t speak a word of English, if they could help with the fork lift extension on their jeep. He came by, did an incredible job of it, really poetry in motion, and when I went to offer some money for his efforts, waved it away. 

Another neighbor was doing some Bobcat work, and I asked if I could pay him to yank some poles out of the ground by the creek and stack them. He knocked it out in no time flat, and when I went to pay said “no charge - welcome to the neighborhood”

And then there are the people who help us financially with our work here. That money could be spent on fun, toys, their own savings. But they see value in what we do, and give of themselves to help. 

We throw out a net. 

And we pull in human kindness.

The world ain’t all bad friends. We just need to know where to look for evidence…