I worked on a shift that started at about 6:30 or 6:45 and worked until about 12:30 p.m. It was amazing! I'd never worked on a Habitat project before, so I was very happy to find it was such a great, friendly, communal experience. Everyone just showed up to work and everyone just wanted to get something good done. No one was getting paid (except for a few Habitat staffers), and the goal was not to make money for anyone but simply to help someone out. There were building materials everywhere. Who owned them? It didn't matter; they were there for us to use as we needed them. There were tools everywhere. Whose tools were they? It didn't matter; they were there for us to use as we needed them. Who does what? It doesn't matter; work where you're needed and do what you're good at. No competition, no selfishness, just cooperation and goodwill. It was a little like heaven.
Why can't our whole society work like this?
If you haven't ever volunteered for a project like this, I highly recommend it. I feel very lucky to have been able to take part. The experience makes me wonder yet again why I thought law school was such a good idea. If my goal was to do good things for needy people, instead of spending a gazillion dollars for a J.D., why didn't I just go to work for Habitat and become a full-time builder? The roads not taken....
