Ascension : News from the Grotto
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 13.08.2009 (Article Archived on 27.08.2009)

Thought For the Week

Twice in the past week, I have been forwarded communications from people who have tried to reach me at the Heritage Society without luck.  The first was a gentleman who had donated a picture to us back in February 2008 and had never received an acknowledgement or thank you.  He had attempted to telephone, although since the museum is not manned daily, and our answer phone went on the blink quite a while ago, he was unsuccessful.  Finally he resorted to contacting AIG who passed the message along.  I immediately emailed him, and apologized for the oversight.  I explained that we are simply a group of volunteers, all busy with our real jobs, and that it must have been lost in the shuffle.  Although it was tardy, I assured him that we are extremely grateful for his kindness in donating a piece of Ascension memorabilia to us.

The second was an email passed on by a gentleman who was visiting.  The writer had attempted to email me without any luck.  We are also apparently having trouble with our email address, which we hope to address soon.  This person was offering to do research for us, and was disappointed at our lack of response and wondered if the Society was even active anymore.  I immediately wrote to him, and assured him that we were very active, and would be very interested in any help he could give us.  Again, I apologized for his difficulty in reaching us.

These incidents brought to mind the importance of simple gestures.  We all get busy in our lives, and sometimes overlook the simplest of gestures, a simple thank-you.  To us, perhaps the actions of another are small, maybe even insignificant, but we don’t know how much it might have meant to them.  To have a donation of an item or a service not acknowledged can leave a bitter taste in someone’s mouth.  It might keep them from performing such an act of kindness another time. 

It takes no real effort to make simple gestures, especially saying thank-you.  Everyday, unfortunately, we witness scenes of rudeness.  I don’t know how many times I have seen diners in our own mess hall ask (and sometimes demand) attention from the serving staff, and then just walk away without a simple thank-you.  It might be their job to serve our food, but it doesn’t mean that anyone has the right to be rude.  We should be thankful that they do such a good job of it, or our lives would be more difficult!

Everyone likes to be thanked for their efforts, whether it be on the job, or helping someone out.  They don’t need to be thanked; we all do what we want to do for our own reasons, but it adds a bit to our day.  And it is such an easy thing to do. 

Here on Ascension we are famous for our waving as we drive around.  It is a form of greeting that we soon take for granted, and becomes a part of our life.  How many of us have found ourselves waving at passing cars when we return to the US or UK?  We’ve probably left a few bewildered drivers wondering who it was in that unknown car!   At home, I have to cross a ferry to get to town (or just about anywhere else!) and I always wave to the operators who direct the cars when I get on and off.  It is my acknowledgment and thanks to them for getting me on and off safely, and helping me on my way. 

Simple gestures – simple, yes, but perhaps all too rare in our modern culture.  We get busy, and too involved in our own lives, and we tune out the world around us.  But it is so easy to be polite, kind and friendly.  In the second reading this week we are reminded by St. Paul of how we are expected to behave as people of faith: “Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper, or raise your voice to anybody, or call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness.” 

A tall order it might seem, but if we start with the simple gestures, a lot of tension will be eased, and the rest will follow.  And when we say thank-you, and get a smile in return, we are rewarded as well.  Our days and our lives will be so much better with more smiles.  So start a chain of smiles.  All it might take is a simple thank-you when someone does something for you.

So this week, let’s all try to remember the simple gestures.   And may God bless us all on our journeys.