A successful person is one who can lay a firm
foundation with the bricks others throw at them.
~ David Brinkley, TV newscaster~
Gary Lehde erased all the wounds from ‘bricks’ thrown at me this week. He exemplifies why I’m on the roof drawing attention to small acts of greatness. Gary drove from Tacoma this morning on his day off, arriving at our Edmonds shop at 9:30am.
I’m briefly down from the roof for my morning ritual of opening the doors for the volunteers who generously staff our shop. I hear a voice calling, “Carol, are you up there?” I expect it’s someone I know at this hour on a Saturday morning so I don’t worry about my tatty t-shirt and pj’s tucked into rubber rain boots. As I unlock the door of the shop, I realize it’s a complete stranger.
“Hello, my name is Gary. I saw you on King 5 TV News last night and what you’re doing touched me so this is for you.” He hands me a brown paper bag of cheese and treats “for your Saturday night” he says. In my other hand he places a stack of bills, “and this is for what you’re doing in Africa.” Let’s just say it was much much more than the $1 I’m asking each person to contribute. I was dumbstruck.
I invited him in for a chat and discovered this is not Gary Lehde’s first, nor will it be his last angel mission. Last year during the holidays he was watching the news and learned that a robber stole presents from under a family’s tree. He showed up on their front porch Christmas Day bearing gifts for everyone. Gary dropped them off and walked away.
“I don’t need recognition,” he said, “ I do it because I’m moved. It makes me feel good. It’s just what I do.”
In his full time work at King County Jail, Gary works at what he calls, “the gates of hell“. Lehde also volunteers for Crystal Judson Family Justice Center for Tacoma/Pierce County offering his expertise to minimize domestic violence situations. His volunteering and angel missions are Gary’s way of finding balance in a world of violence.
As a Navy veteran, Gary is no stranger to violence and shared that, “jail guards have heart too”. Bravo Gary for your small acts of greatness.
Thank you to all the Gary’s in our world who have shared their stories with me. And for those of you throwing “bricks” at me, thank you for strengthening my resolve.
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Hi, I'm Carol. I'm living in a tent on the roof until 1 million people each donate $1 to the Fabric of Life Foundation and share how they are making a difference in their world.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:55 am
It’s been ten busy days … great to see Carol writing again about what speaks to her heart and soul, what strengthens her commitment and resolve! It’s dang windy up there on the roof too…Carol stands firmly … a lesser person, clinging to tent and tarps, might have been blown down by now. Bravo Carol!
September 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Carol you honor me with this mention on your site.My volunteer work is at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center for Tacoma/Pierce County.If anyone feels they are a victem of domestic violence please go to the Family Justice Center web site for information/help.Peace
September 22nd, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Carol,
I hope you know that what you do inspires others (such as me) and helps us turn our bricks into a firm foundation. Thanks for hanging tough up there on the roof and doing what you do!
Lisa Herb
Alliance for International Women’s Rights
New York
October 6th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Go to King5.com/Best of Western Washington/check every day until Oct 11 and see if you would like to vote for WOMAN OF THE YEAR. Carols name has been submitted by persons unknown in the hope of funneling more dollars to the Fabric of Life Foundation.Peace
October 12th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Carol, hang in there. The 1 month anniversary of our first meeting is coming up so I’ll see you about the same time with the same “treats” and some dollars of the same amount as last time.Peace
October 21st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Carol, Good on ya. See you this saturday as promised.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
GOH…Hope you receive this message. Have to go to Bremerton on Sat for long-standing client meeting so will be down from the roof for the day. Edmonds shop opens at 10am Saturday or I’ll be back on roof Sunday.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Carol; once I found out you were out and about I got over it and made my donation anyway. I hope you had a good roofless day out and I left your usual “treats” anyway.Hang in there and hang on for the homestreach, you can do it.Gary