“When we take others into consideration during our endeavors, our thinking changes for the better. As a result, our lives change for the better. Not just for us individually, but for a community as a whole.”
I am grateful for the incredible opportunity to serve others.
This is how I concluded a speech that I was honored to give as a resident of my new apartment building’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in June 2021. These are words I take to heart—words I try to live by every day.
And that’s what Lions do every day, all around the world. Change lives—theirs and thousands of others. As a new member of the Watkins-Montour Lions Club in Watkins Glen, New York, I am grateful for the incredible opportunity to serve others. In fact, that has become my life’s mission.
This is my journey that led me to embrace this calling.
My mom and dad were kind and loving people who took the time to instill wonderful values in me, such as caring about others, supporting our local businesses and organizations, reaching out to those in need, and being of service to the community.
My parents gained their wisdom through their faith and their struggles as political refugees from Hungary near the end of World War II. They gave up their privileged lives, and with my two older brothers in tow (I was born several years later), emigrated to the United States in 1949 after spending four years in a displaced persons camp in Austria operated by the U.S. military. They arrived in America with $5.00 and didn’t speak any English. But, with the help of others, they were able to build successful lives.
I had a good life and enjoyed a great career in engineering in commercial electronics. I got married, and my wife and I raised a fine son. But unfortunately, through my own poor choices, I faced a very challenging, personal struggle. I sacrificed everything that I had worked so hard for—the people and the values I once held dear, and even my sense of dignity.
After some honest reflection, I became aware of the flaws that were at the root of my struggles and rediscovered my spirituality. There were also many people who came into my life at this time and helped me by sharing their experiences, strength and hope. They unselfishly gave of themselves to help me find my way again. I came to understand how important it was to help people, and I refocused my energies on freely giving to others what had freely been given to me.
Now, as a Lion, our motto, “We Serve,” perfectly defines the commitment I made to help those who are struggling and serve my community. It’s like International President Douglas Alexander so eloquently stated, “How do we make the big changes needed to see a difference in our world? We do it by changing ourselves. We do it by first changing our hearts, then our minds. And new actions will follow.”
I thoroughly enjoy serving through my Lions club. We recently provided service to the local food bank managed by my county’s outreach organization by packing bags of holiday meal ingredients for those in need. In cooperation with the Red Cross and its Sound the Alarm program, I was also part of a team that installed smoke detectors and provided fire safety guidance to low-income individuals and senior citizens. In addition, my club volunteered at a local village’s Fall Harvest Festival by providing trash pick up throughout the event.
But the activity that has brought me the greatest sense of satisfaction and purpose was our club’s Random Act of Kindness project. This service activity provides one of our Lions with the opportunity to give a $100 bill randomly to someone we feel is in need. Having been tasked with this act, I found such an individual.
A young, single mother in my apartment building had been lamenting about the cost of a car repair she had done and how it impacted her financially. The cost of her repair was $100. I gave her the $100 bill, and she was overwhelmed with gratitude. It was an emotional moment for both of us. But that $100 multiplied as she was able to have other repairs done that had been delayed, allowing her to use her car for Uber service to generate income and become more self-sufficient.
Lion John Juhasz hands Denise Faller, the recipient of the Random Act of Kindness, a $100 bill.
Through Lions, I have the opportunity to make a difference in the world. One person, one community, one day at a time. And we can all do it together. Many hands make light work. It is my hope that you, too, will find inspiration, peace and contentment serving as a Lion.
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Lion John Juhasz is a member of the Watkins-Montour Lions Club in Watkins Glen, New York.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted communities around the world in different ways. To ensure we’re serving safely wherever we live, Lions should follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or local health authorities. Visit our Serving Safely page for resources that can help you safely serve your community.
