Volunteers Can Make A Difference
The Power Of People
By Miles Patrick Yohnke
Copyright © 2018 All Rights reserved
Gary Braithwaite and Miles Patrick Yohnke, in 2010.
He felt distraught.
His twin brother, Judge Grant Sheard was arriving at his house at 2 p.m.He was coming in from Cranbrook, BC. I arrived at the Bridge City Bicycle Co-op(a volunteer-run, non-profit cooperative here in Saskatoon) shortly before 1 p.m.We were going to cycle back to his place.
He felt distraught, not that his brother was arriving (he was excited for that),but rather, that he could not completely get this stranger's bicycle to the levelto where he would want to ride it.
The bicycle owner, a young woman, was a new arrival to our City of Bridges.She was from a foreign land, here to study science at our world-renowned university.
Her English wasn't very good and her bicycle was even worse. No rubber, no brakes."No problem" replied volunteer, Garth Sheard. "We'll get you to where you need to goand will do it by not hurting our environment or our ecosystem."
He laboured over her bicycle, going through boxes, finding parts, building the bicycleup to where it was roadworthy. Yet, he still wasn't satisfied.
She now could finally ride her bicycle, but volunteer and board member,Garth Sheard, didn't like the bottom bracket and the feel of the crank.But that would take another two hours of his time. He didn't have the time that day.It was now 1:30 p.m.
The young lady was happy. "Go, go", she replied in her broken English. "I can come backanother time and get that fixed."
As I cycled with my dear friend, Garth Sheard (it is a lovely thirty minutetraverse) I could feel his weight. He was so distraught. "You did the best you couldwith the time given", I replied.
It was a beautiful experience to witness. That kind of humanity towards another human life.I thought, how lucky this world is to have a man like this in it. How lucky BridgeCity Bicycle Co-op is to have a person like that with them. How lucky I was to have afriend of this level of being.
Often we will overhear a person complain about their job (which renders a salary).Here was a person giving of his time. No financial reward. Just the satisfaction ofhelping another and yet, he felt he could have done more.
We should bottle his mindframe. Pour it into the conscious of all mankind.
June 28th, 2018, Mr. Gary Braithwaite and I attended a sold out Sasktel SaskatchewanJazz festival concert.
After the mind-expanding, heart-filling performance provided by the lives of KellyleeEvans and her bandmates, he dropped me off. It was 11:30 p.m. by then. We talked engaginglywhile out front of my place until 2 a.m. (he still had a two hour drive home ahead of him).We shared our souls, the events currently in our lives. Real dialogue. Real heart.Real special.
Like Mr. Garth Sheard, Mr. Gary Braithwaite sees the vast storehouse of unlimited humanpotential in others. These men see the good that others provide. They see. They truly think.Their compassion and love is immeasurable.
Near the end of our visit he gave me a paper, "DON'T LOOK AT IT", he replied."I just wrote you a little something, I'll write more in August.Please place it in your pocket."
In my apartment, when I emptied my pockets, was Mr. Gary Braithwaite's paper.He hadn't written me a note as I thought; he had given me a 100 DOLLAR BILL!
An important thing that we should all realize (and both Mr. Gary Braithwaite andMr. Garth Sheard understand this concept), is that we are all just passing around money.
These coming days, maybe one should look at where their money comes from?Did the money received warrant the services rendered?
Do we have the principles of these two great men? Did our lives have real meaningand purpose? How will we be remembered? Will we even be?
Will we be remembered by more than just close friends and family?
I'm deeply grateful to have these two great men in my life.
I care about this planet. I care about the people found in it. I care about you.
From my lips to God's ears, I love you each dearly.
Miles Patrick Yohnke
The bicycle on the left is Mr. Garth Sheard's original '90 Trek 800. In the fall of '17he gave it to me. The bicycle on the right is another '90 Trek 800. He found the framein early '18 and over a course of time found other matching parts and built it up fromnothing. On his first test drive he took it to my mother's, where I was visiting.He presented the bike to the two of us, stating: "This is your designated winter bike now,the original one will now only be used as your summer commuter bike."
Mr. Sheard builds the most functional and comfortable bicycles. Full fenders, rear rack,and set-up in the "sit-up-and-beg" riding position. Precise engineering - they are alwaysan astonishing experience to ride. Thank you Mr. Sheard!
Copyright © 2018 Miles Patrick Yohnke - All Rights Reserved.
Miles Patrick Yohnke is a globally recognized motivational author, poet, and mentor with a wealth of life experience. His philosophies and materials are used in schools in Africa, India, and the United States. They are used by preachers in their pulpits. They have been read on National radio and featured in countless publications.
If you are looking to develop and improve your life, Yohnke offers consultation in person, by phone, or via email. For more information please contact him directly at: 306.227.6379
To Comment or Connect with Miles: Email Miles