Photo Credit: © Can Stock Photo Inc. / lucidwaters
As the rain fell, I sat quietly in church behind my drums, waiting for the cue for the next song (I play in the worship band). A guest speaker, standing at the podium, began to talk of some difficult times and challenges he had faced. He mentioned that there was only one way for him to truly clear his head when problems persisted. “I drive my car to the Metroparks, take a deep breath of fresh air, and immediately start to sort things out. Don’t know what I’d do without those gorgeous parks.”
The congregation knows I work for Cleveland Metroparks, where I have helped people reserve picnic grounds for weddings, graduations, and other special occasions. I have made my pitch for levy support to the congregation, suggested golf courses to take dad for Father’s Day, and told members of the church of the best spots to find the fish biting in the vast 22,000 acres of park land that encircles Cleveland. When summer jobs become available, I alert the parents of college kids and older teenagers that the Metroparks is a great place to start building a resume. Actually, I haven’t just “worked there” since I graduated from college, but I’ve been entrenched. The Metroparks is the type of place that welcomes people, and I’m the type of person who thrives in that atmosphere.
When the congregation looked over at me, the guest speaker, not knowing my background, asked what was going on. I quickly explained that he had mentioned the place at which I work, and he noted that I seemed personally flattered.