THE NUMBERS …

 

Back at the beginning of 2017 I set a goal of how many sandwich packages (sandwich, fruit drink, fruit) to be distributed for the year. As the year wound down, I was fairly close to being on track of achieving that goal and I shared this with someone. The response I got was something along the line of ‘How do you know your goal is in line with God’s goal? He may not want you to distribute that many.’ Huh?! If anything, He wants me to do more. Needless to say, I spent the next week or so pissed off at myself for not having kept my mouth shut.

 

Setting a yearly goal and paying attention to the numbers isn’t about ego or ‘I’ve distributed ___ packages since I launched this in the Fall of 2015.’ In truth, “I” have nothing to do with this; as I am merely God’s vehicle to feed His lesser fortunate children. Nevertheless, setting a goal and paying attention to the numbers keeps you forging ahead when you really don’t feel like it. After working all day in lower Manhattan, there are many times when I do not feel like going out to Costco to pick up my bounty. Quite frankly, that is the one thing about this whole process that I highly detest. Having a goal also helps you forge ahead when you come home Saturday night around 11:30 or midnight after tending to your father and you have to make anywhere from 80 – 160 sandwiches, bag them with the other materials and refrigerate them, and you’re going to church later that Sunday morning on about 4 – 5 hours sleep.

 

I will admit that in focusing on a goal and the numbers, there are times when your “soul” becomes numb. After awhile, all of the faces look the same, particularly as it comes close to the time to catch the next Long Island Railroad train back to Queens. I was a bit concerned about that until last weekend when was emotionally “touched” by a couple I approached near a hotel across the street from Penn Station. They were thankful I offered them something to eat, and as the woman positioned herself a certain way, I saw she had a metal leg. I was “touched” the next day at a family shelter when a long-term resident was slow in coming to the lobby, and as our eyes met, I could see she was quite thankful I was still there as I gave her the last four packages I had. I was “touched” at that same family shelter when a supervisor told me a resident said to him, ‘If that guy with the sandwiches comes before I get back from church, put aside six bags for me.’

You’re concerned about getting caught up in the number and goals and your “soul” becoming numb … but you still feel bad that numerous people (Les Williams, Tina Young, Renee Taylor, Margaret Dudley, Karen Beasley, Max Pardo, to name a few) are down for the cause with either preparation and/or distribution. However, you’re so unbelievably busy with … “life” that you can rarely take anyone up on their offer. You find yourself more attached to this than you initially intended to be, and you get considerably irked whenever someone compromises your positive energy by saying ‘Take it easy. Don’t overdo it,’ even though you know they mean well.

 

It’s supposed to be cold as a mutha outside today, which means I’ll be able to hit up more people inside of Penn Station going through a garbage can before I actually get to the streets. I probably do need to ‘take it easy’ and ‘not overdo it,’ but it won’t be today. Time to roll.

 

To all … Be Blessed!!!

Marc Taylor

President, With Actions and in Truth, Inc.

November 15, 2019

 

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