Last spring, Allen turned 66. He spent his days repairing lawnmowers and other items, for free. One day, when working with wood scraps in his garage, his neighbor, Martha, took him a glass of lemonade. Allen confided that he was disappointed that the school had cut the woodshop elective from the curriculum. He knew how valuable it was for boys and girls to learn to use a hammer, nails, and sandpaper. That Saturday, Mary heard laughter coming from Allen’s driveway. A 10-year-old boy and 8-year-old girl were learning how to measure and cut wood. They built a wobbly birdhouse, painted it bright blue, and hung it on the fence for all to see. Word got out and four kids showed up after school on Monday. Allen taught them how to sand the wood until it was smooth. Allen didn’t spend time criticizing, but helped the kids learn and talk through what needed to be done. Other children began to bring scrap wood and began to learn skills. One day 14-year-old Maya came to watch. She had been kicked out of the after-school program because of her attitude. Allen didn’t ask questions, just handed her a chisel to learn to round a smooth curve. Every day, for three weeks, Maya came and worked. She didn’t say much, but did a lot of observing and work. One morning, Allen found a shelf left on his front porch, made by Maya, with a note to hang it in his garage. Neighbors noticed what was happening. Rich kids were working beside poorer kids, those who learned the skills were joining Allen in patiently teaching the proper way to “Measure twice and cut once.” They learned to paint. People at the bakery brought cookies and the mailman even brought boxes of nails to be used. The elementary school principal made arrangements to bring the 5th graders, every Wednesday, to learn new skills. When Martha asked why he agreed to teach the kids, Allen replied, “I thought I was teaching them. Turns out…they were teaching me how to be needed again. We all need fixing sometimes. But nobody gets fixed alone.”
Kathy lives in the town of Cedar Hills and is a retired teacher. Her husband died two years ago. Still wanting to help people learn, Kathy set up two chairs and a chalkboard on her front porch, along with a sign that states, “Homework help. Free. All ages.” Manny, 9, missed 3 weeks of school when his dad lost his job. With a cookie and a pizza drawn on the chalkboard, he learned fractions. Word spread quickly and children and even adults came to learn. A former librarian would come and read stories. A retired engineer, Mr. Rivera, came and taught Algebra. Outgrowing the front porch, the city offered an old rec center to be used. Volunteers fixed up the building, teens painted murals on the walls, teachers gave supplies, and people volunteered their time to tutor. Soon “The Open Door Learning Center” was ready to be used. Kathy still takes time to sit on her porch to drink tea. The blackboard now states, “Knowledge is a seed. Plant it anywhere.”
No matter what our age, may we all know we are still needed to give, help, and encourage others.
Do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14
