The sweat dripped off his forehead as Truman sat on the beam they had just placed, while he looked out over the prairie.  The wind blew as the tall grasses swayed musically for miles around him.  This would be a bountiful place to build his future, and the future of his descendants.

He quickly focused back on the work at hand as he looked out at all of the people gathered around the structure to help him build his barn – all in a single day.  There must have been over a hundred people from neighboring homesteads that came to help him on that wonderful day.  He could feel the pride in his heart and the gratitude for each and every one of them.

The young children played as they found smaller jobs to do under the instructions of their parents.  The women prepared enough food to keep the workers energized, while the men prepared the lumber and lifted the heavy beams into place with what seemed to be little effort.

Yes, it was truly amazing what could be accomplished when everyone came together to do it.  No one seemed to mind taking instructions from another.  No, there were few egos here.  Everyone was focused on the end goal – raising the barn before sun down.  There was a lot of work remaining, but it seemed that they would be successful in that goal.

As he worked, Truman thought about the long journey to this land and the hardships that he and his family had to overcome to make it to this day.  He would always remember the work and the gratitude he had for all of those supporting him.  He would return the favor to those around him, for years to come.  That was the way things were done, and he would continue that tradition.

That night, as he laid in bed, he could feel the ache of his body.  He wondered how many others ached that night – just for him and his family.  Once again, he was overcome with gratitude and love.  He realized that his family was no longer limited to those under the roof where he slept, but now extended for miles in all directions.  He then began to realize that their families were also his family now, which extended even farther.  Pretty soon, it would extend across the entire state and the country.  The thought of this seemed larger than himself.

The next morning when Truman awoke, he sat outside on his porch to look at his new barn.  He could now raise life stock through the winter.  He now had the structures in place to extend his farming capabilities.  Life seemed easier now, but he knew the challenges somehow had just grown as well.

He watched as his children ran out the door to play in the new barn.  His wife came out to join him on the porch.

“Did you ever think we would get to this point?”  He asked his wife as she put her hand on his shoulder.

“No, I really didn’t at times, but then I remembered who I had married and that released me of doubt.”

“It’s a wonderful world that we live in.  The way people come together to help each other.”

“Yes, it is.  It’s just too bad we can’t always remember that when we have quarrels.”

The two stared out onto the prairie wondering what life now would have in store for them.  But one thing was for certain, they had felt the joy of community and service to others, and were determined to contribute to the community in any way they could.

Ω

InspiraCard

When we come together as a community, we can accomplish great things.  The interesting thing, is that your community extends around the planet!

Written Thu, Apr 21, 2016 8:00 – 8:14 AM MDT