Faith | These teens dug in and uncovered a truth about service

I learned about serving others when I was young. Now I have the opportunity to watch the youth learn to serve like I did.

As a teenager, I had the opportunity to pick cherries. It was always early in the morning before it got hot, because it was the second week of June. School was out for summer, and I was restless and eager to be away from routine.

My Dad would wake me up early, and then we would travel 20 minutes, or so, to an orchard in Benton City. I had nothing to gain from this activity, except a couple of hours of quiet contemplation picking cherries (keep the stems on!). Sometimes, my friends were there, and we would talk about summer life--and who crushed on whom.

I didn’t really know why we picked the cherries, except that our church congregation earned money from all that picking, and it went into a budget fund. At the time, this budget fund probably went toward a nice ham dinner at Christmas for our congregation.

But I’m sure most of the time it went toward a family that needed to keep their lights on and have food on their table; perhaps a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Recently, I spent a Saturday morning with several other adults and about 125 youth. We had the opportunity to spread bark at the Chamna Natural Preserve in Richland. Again, the air was cool, and I was surprised by how beautiful the area is!

My group with about 60 youth, ages ranging between 11 and 18, were happily chattering as we walked about a quarter of a mile. There, piles of wood chips were piled up ready for spreading.

Those amazing youth, with shovels and rakes in hand, dug in and got the work done! Well, almost. They made a huge dent in the project.

There was no grumbling, no complaining. Just happy youth, jabbering with their friends and making a positive impact on society and the beautiful Chamna Natural Preserve.

Sometimes, it’s not easy! I have passed on an opportunity to serve because I “didn’t have it in me” or I “didn’t have time,” or I “was too tired.”

I have found that by going forward with faith and love, and acting as our Savior, Jesus Christ, I walk away feeling just a little bit better in mind and body. Jesus Christ taught: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind … . Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matthew 22:37, 39)

When we do the big things like picking cherries and spreading bark – and the little things like holding the door open for someone, or picking up a piece of trash – we are serving our fellow man and making this world just a little bit better than we found it. More importantly, we are serving each other in a big way and setting an example for those around us.

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Guest Spiritual Life writer Sara Orton Ortega is from the Richland Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.