Sabrina Little says she went for a run one day in a neighbourhood park with her husband and her children. To extend the running part while pushing the stroller, the family took an itinerary “as circuitous as possible”. When she arrived, she described a park in poor condition, marked the day before by football matches, outdoor events, and family picnics.
At the same time, the author observes that the bins were overflowing, leading to a cascade of rubbish across the grass, while the wind carried light debris around the play area equipment. She explains that she has to hold her toddler’s hand before he grabs an empty Cheetos packet. She then says she’s in “defensive” mode, protecting her children from the mess.
Looking at the other side of the playground, she spots a father with his two sons. According to her, this father helps his children pick up litter, and the boys join in enthusiastically. She also says she felt “chastised” watching them, while comparing two inclinations: protecting her children against the problem, or, on the contrary, inviting action on it.
Sabrina Little’s reflection then builds on Wendell Berry, who died in August at the age of 92. She recalls that he was a farmer, an environmentalist, and the author of more than 40 books, and that he wrote about community and rootedness. In an essay, Berry suggests that the biggest obstacle to saving the planet would not be greed, but “the modern hankering after glamour”, and he argues that the real work is “small, humble, and humbling”.
Lastly, the author links this idea to how she defines greatness. When she asks her students what it means to be “great”, they often answer in terms of status, celebrity, earnings, or career, so a “vertical” progression. For her, the strongest impact does not come from “rising” up a ladder of success, but from serving and humbling herself to carry out difficult, concrete work, as the father in the park does. She concludes by tying this to the trail’s service orientation.
