It's the volunteers who matter

Any organization is comprised of people.  All organizations, companies, academic institutions, hospitals or government entities rely on its people to get things done.  Those lower down on the totem pole are often forgotten.  Sometimes they are unappreciated (or feel as though they are unappreciated).  There are certainly groups that take care of their workers expressing gratitude and support.  Others are less skilled at this.  This posting is not about insinuating any such rhetoric.  It's a post celebrating the volunteers in Ofunato and Rikuzentakata.  It's the volunteers there who are doing the day-to-day dirty work whom I'm writing about today.  It's the volunteers who matter.

H is a local hip-hop artist.  Bald and bearded he resembles Buddha, if Buddha were square and not round.  He wears over-sized sweatshirts and cut-off sweatpants with bright pink Crocs and pink and yellow and neon green striped socks.  Some days he could pass for being a gangster wannabe.  H showed up on the first day and has hit the ground running since.  What makes H unique (even more than channeling a hip-hop Buddha-gangster) is his speech.  Simply put, I have yet to come across a young Japanese male who speaks with this much politeness and eloquence.  His words reflect respect, kindness, gratitude and grace.  Looking at him, one expects the opposite.  No one would be surprised if his language were coarse, rough and sailor-like.  It's not.  His words express beauty in their simplicity and sincerity in their humility.  It is a joy to listen to this man talk.

J, like many Japanese women, looks 24 and is not.  She's closer to my age than to 24.  I could go two ways with this:  hate her for looking so young and beautiful or love her for defying crow's feet.  I chose the latter.  She is tireless in her energy.  She exemplifies a true love of life through her adventurous spirit,  critical thinking and dedication to her people.  Her laughter, light and chirpy with a head toss added in for emphasis is honey to the ears.  J does what's needed.  Showing no fear, she speaks her mind.  I love her spirit and all it embodies.

T is Japan's future.  I want him to run for office.  He personifies dignity, and it is clear he puts thought into everything he says.  When he speaks, people listen.  There's no grandstanding or ego in his mannerisms or words.  I would love for Japan's future politicians to be more like him.

Three people showed up one night on Harley Davidsons.  Mr. and Mrs. S and their friend Mr. W said they were touring Hokkaido and heard through a friend there was a group in Iwate looking for volunteers and they "just rode on down."  Quiet and unassuming, they came and went.  Mr. S said "I don't like to speak in public" when he introduced himself but went onto to say "anything I can do to help."  Mrs. S said, "what he said" and Mr. W said "ditto."  Beauty in simplicity.  As they left Mr. S said, "you came to help Japan, so next time there's a natural disaster in your country I'll be there."  Hearing their Harleys roar away every night, I stood in awe and feeling a bit of a crush coming on realized I wanted more people like them in my life.

People matter.  Cliches are cliches for a reason.  They contain bits of truth.  When people help others, when strangers do good deeds for others whom they will never meet again there is beauty in this.  I count myself lucky and blessed to have worked along side these heroes and heroines.