Ms. Samuels, Peterson Ave, and God’s Glory
May 16, 2012 Leave a comment
Written by Steve Blom–Imag(in)e, Sauk Village
When I joined the Beautification Committee of Sauk Village this past Summer I saw it as a unique opportunity to be a part of something positive that the community was already doing. It would be a chance to use my head/heart/hand gift of landscaping, and to develop some relationships. Little did I know…
As a committee, we re-instated the Hootsie Awards. This is an annual award given to those nominated by their neighbors for the work they put into maintaining and improving their properties. As committee members, we were asked to judge the nominated properties in various categories. Unable to go out with the rest of the committee on a Saturday, I went by myself on a Monday afternoon. Almost through with the list I turned onto Peterson Ave.
What’s important to note is that Peterson Ave. is “that” street in the Village with the reputation. It is labeled and avoided. Comprised of a series of duplexes connected by mismatched siding, boarded windows, and uneven roof-lines people from outside of Sauk Village stereotype the rest of the community using Peterson Ave. as the standard. My greatest concern was that being parked on the side of the street taking pictures would be viewed by some of the neighbors as another bank photographing a foreclosed home or worse.
“What could anyone possibly do with this tiny piece of property in this neighborhood to be nominated for an award?” was my judgmental thought-of-the-day as I pulled up to Ms. Samuels’ house. I sat there, somewhat stunned, thinking to myself “THIS is what someone can do.” A couple of minutes into my note-taking the garage door opened and out walked a woman who is looked at me suspiciously. I rolled down my window and introduced myself. Immediately her demeanor changed. I told her that I loved her yard: her use of fountains, the pavers and planters, the various ornamental trees and shrubs…”It’s beautiful!” Ms. Samuels began to cry, looked to the sky and said, “Thank you, God. You have no idea what that means to me today.” She told me that she understood the reputation of the street she lives on, and that she felt called by God to bring some beauty and peace to this neighborhood. She shared that she is a breast-cancer survivor, and that she wants to live every day for God’s glory. This landscape, this simple act of creating beauty, is one of the ways she is connecting with her neighbors. We talked for a while that afternoon, and before leaving she blessed me with one of those hugs that makes you feel like you are a child being embraced by the Savior himself.
A month later, the winners were announced at the Village Board Meeting. When Ms. Samuels’ name was read for 2nd place, she jumped over her husband’s legs, danced her way to the front, hugged every person on the committee and the Mayor. She thanked God not for allowing her to score a touchdown, but for giving her the joy and ability to share his love in this way. Ms. Samuels’ joy was being 2nd place. In a room often filled with anger and arguments, this woman from Peterson Ave. filled it with love and peace.
We’re still learning about and developing trust within this community, and we probably always will be, but one of the greatest affirmations up to this point is that God is here in ways I hadn’t imagined. Despite the labels we are so quick to assign others and ourselves, the evidence of redemption at work is irrefutable.
