We were fixing a little stretch of fence, and for the most part were taking our time. It was a hot day, so drinking plenty of water and pacing oneself were important things to do.

There were four of us all together, and so it was also a great time to teach the youth another valuable lesson about teamwork … you know, that concept of everyone working together to achieve a goal. The kids were reminded once again that not everyone on the team does the same thing, but everyone needs to do at least some-thing.

Sometimes kids think they have nothing important to contribute to a project. So the idea of making an earnest effort doesn’t really occur to them, or if it does, it is quickly dismissed as foolish thinking. These kids then grow up to be adults who continue to think the same kind of dispiriting thoughts. In fact, sometimes adults do not hesitate to “call in sick” in part because they do not feel that the job they do on a daily basis is critical to success of the mission anyway.

At one point, when it was also getting close to lunchtime, the smallest boy whose job was to carry fenceposts to the other boys who would then drive them into the ground, decided that he didn’t want to be on the team anymore. With all the sincerity he could muster, he said to me, “I done helpin’ now.” (And between you and me, he was so darned cute saying it, I almost let him by with it.) But after we explained the importance of his job to the success of the project, (and that the quickest way to lunch would be if all the team members were helping), he once again jumped right up
and starting carrying the posts to the other boys.

A great little helper

Then within a short time, we were all enjoying lunch together and talking about a job well done …. and completed.

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Coyote Hill

A Place to Be a Child.

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larry