Why Wait?

Time.

How will I spend my time?  How do I optimize my time?  Am I wasting time?  How much time must I wait to do this?  How much time will I spend in college?  

Our world feels infinitely delicate when looked at through the scope of time. A sense of anxious wonder and a constant fear of the unknown possess us.  As high school students, we are used to conforming to the pattern of simultaneously working and waiting.  Many of the things we must do– in order to obtain the occupations, lifestyles, and goals we desire– are insignificant to us.  We do them simply because they exist along the seemingly arbitrary path that will (supposedly) lead us to what we want.  So much of being a kid has become preparing for the next step of life- a seemingly never ending, goal oriented cycle.  There are logical explanations for this, yes.  But why must we wait to start changing our community?

In September Jordan Hewitt, Development Associate for Urban Ministries of Wake County, interviewed me about Enloe Charity Ball.  Perhaps her most simple question was one that I have wrestled with for some time now. “Why do you guys do it?  Why do students participate?” she asked.  To me, the answer was a given but it barely scratched the surface of what I later realized.  My initial answer was something along the lines of “Charity Ball is good. Why wouldn’t students want to be a part of it?”.  Apart from being a completely intelligible answer, there is so much more to it.  I believe that those who are “all in” for Charity Ball understand the great deal of privilege that coincides with the hand they have been dealt.  Those who are “all in” for Charity Ball recognize the power that they have.  Those who are “all in” for Charity Ball realize that it is one of the most significant uses of their time that they will ever experience.  Those who are “all in” for Charity Ball are enthralled by the idea of not waiting to make a difference in the precious lives that are being transformed.

As the time ticks by and Charity Ball grows nearer, I challenge you to consider how you use your time.  Consider this, as well as what you have the privilege of not spending time on. Think about how long it would take to buy your family groceries if you did not have a car.  Think about how difficult it would be to be efficient if you had no idea where your next meal was coming from or where you were going to sleep that night.  Think about trying to support your family while having no access to treatment for your chronic illness.  

I don’t want to wait a single second to make a difference in the lives of those who are living in crisis. The time is now. I am #allinforurbanmin because I know that every minute that I give to this organization is so amazingly, incomprehensibly worth it.

Grace Brown

Vice President of Public Relations