A Helping Hand

Being awarded the opportunity to witness Odds Bodkin live was nothing short of incredible. Using only a guitar and his outstanding voice, he was able to tell an exquisite and extremely detailed story from Homer’s The Odyssey. He mimicked voices of multiple different characters, all while not missing a note on his acoustic. Bodkin has entertained students across the country, he has even displayed his talents at Harvard and Yale. However, Odds Bodkin does not only travel the country to entertain. He is also famous for his efforts in anti-bullying, with a primarily younger audience. He uses his astonishing musical talent to deliver this message, hoping to impact the lives of struggling children across the nation. Similar to Odds Bodkin, Robert Frost’s The Mending Wall, Jill McDonough’s Accident, Mass Ave., Frances E. W. Harper’s Learning to Read, and Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach’s “The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice in Jesuit Higher Education” all exhibit the importance of helping others, especially those in need.

After reading The Mending Wall, I realized the importance of boundaries for maintaining a stellar relationship with others. To me, these walls represent structure, which is essential in every type of relationship. Every person is different, so without boundaries relationships can get unorganized, hindering the benefit of both parties. Although boundaries are necessary, subtle gaps in these walls are just as important. As we notice in this poem, the gaps in the wall are what allow the two neighbors to personalize and learn each other, despite the limited dialogue. When others are in need of help, sometimes we have to break boundaries, cross the gap that separates us, and become one unit. The City of Baltimore for example, is unfortunately clustered with people without homes. You often see them on the side of the street, hoping someone will roll down their window and offer them something which can help them get through their long and stressful day. It is our job as humans and citizens of Baltimore to sometimes roll down that window, which serves as a boundary, and offer someone an extra meal or help to brighten a person’s day. This small act suppresses our differences and conjoins us as a single unit.

The event which took place in McDonough’s Accident, Mass Ave., seems almost unheard of, especially in a city like Boston. Just as the narrator said, I would have expected to see intense conflict and hear every four-letter word imaginable. Although the small lady driving the Buick was in the wrong and McDonough had every right to be frustrated, she stepped back and looked at the situation from the unpopular angle. McDonough noticed that the woman understood she made a mistake and was extremely upset. Instead of continuing to berate her, McDonough calmed down and gave the woman a much-needed embrace. McDonough exemplified a perfect example of swallowing her pride and helping a person in need.

Learning to Read exemplifies one of the many everyday struggles slaves had to deal with in American history. Slaves attempted every way possible to be able to read and acquire the intelligence they knew they deserved. For example, Uncle Caldwell purposely greased book pages in hopes to disguise the papers from his master, allowing him to attempt in translating the ravaged words. Yankee teachers volunteered their time and traveled down south to help these slaves in need during a crucial time in our history. These unsung American heroes not only helped these slaves, but contributed in America’s evolution and disestablishment of the awful era of slavery.

Kolvenbach’s “The Service of Faith and Promotion of Justice in Jesuit Higher Education” reminded me of what makes Loyola University special and prestigious. The Jesuit education and focus on “the whole person” can potentially link countless communities together. A major component of the Jesuit tradition is service. Since coming to Loyola, I have substantially increased my service learning, and truly discovered how amazing it feels to volunteer time and benefit others. The previous readings as well as the incredible work by Odds Bodkin, have all exemplified the Jesuit tradition and displayed the amazing impact it can have on people, communities, and self-fulfillment.