Value Of Service

In the individualistic world we live in, many people do not notice when those around them are in need. People go about their daily lives thinking that they are too busy to try and get involved in someone else’s life. Everyone is guilty of this selfishness. However, you never know how the simplest thing such as a holding a door for someone could change their day. Just showing a neighbor they are loved is serving them. By serving them, you may even change their life. This kind of service is vital not only to the person being served, but also to the one serving. Service can bring people together and break down social barriers. Therefore, service is a value that should be displayed each and every day and it plays a vital role in my life. This …show more content…
Recognizing when someone needs compassion or that one has the opportunity to help is the first step in service. Although the main character in “Dead Air,” Zack, is said to ignore his parents and leave his room a huge mess before he goes away to camp (Woolfitt 34), after camp he is a completely different person whose eyes are opened to all kinds of distress. His heart breaks for children like Stella who have to endure so many tragedies. At one point he even yells, “Don’t you care? In her country the (government lies, and steals land, and kills, and tortures!” (Woolfitt 37). Similarly, Saunders talks about a girl from his school named Ellen. He remembers so many minute details about this girl such as her “blue cat’s-eye glasses” even though she moved away. He remembers the way she was “mostly ignored, occasionally teased.” These details prove that Saunders noticed the girl in pain and might even elude to the fact that that he wanted to make a difference. Teasing is also evident in the story “Brownies” with Laurel, her brownie troop, and the Mennonites. Throughout the story, Laurel notices even the tiniest of Daphne’s actions that set her apart from the rest of the troop. During the bus ride home while all of the girls are making fun of troop 909, Daphne looks down at her feet (Packer 25). This action is a sign that she does not wish to be …show more content…
Perhaps the best example of this is Zack from “Dead Air.” After hearing many stories like Stella’s at his summer camp, he can’t wait to share them with the world because he thinks those children deserve to be heard. Although he may take a more radical approach that might not be the best way to verbalize the children’s tragedies (such as when he starts preaching on a radio competition) Zack definitely has his heart in the right place. He dedicates one of his most precious things to Stella: his time. He uses his time to build a float for the parade (Woolfitt 39) that will draw other people’s attention and cause them to ask questions. Similarly, in the final line of “Brownies,” Daphne replies to Arnetta’s snarky comment regarding the Mennonites by saying, “Maybe they would. Just to be nice” (Packer 28). Even though she is not building a colossal float to support the Mennonites, her simple comment reminds the rest of the girls that the Mennonites are serving others because it is the nice thing to do. Therefore, the girls should strive to be more like the Mennonites and reciprocate their service by being kind to the Mennonites in return. Although Saunders missed his chance to show kindness like the Mennonites, the main point of his speech was to not miss opportunities to show kindness to those around you. He may not