For years now I’ve been aware of a grouping of people I label, ‘The Invisibles’. I haven’t met them and I don’t know who they are, but I know they’re around, because over and over again, I’ve seen their work as I go about my everyday life.
First Contact
I first became aware of them 20 years ago while living in Durban. I had been part of a Methodist community and one day was told about a car that had been purchased for someone who had lost their business, and needed some assistance to get back on their feet again. Initially I assumed it was the Church who had stepped in, formally. On further investigation I discovered that there was a group of people who had informally been called, who between them had put enough money together for the car to be acquired.
I had no idea who they were, but started calling them ‘The Invisible Church’, and watched as time and time again they banded together, completely informally, did what needed to be done, and disbanded again. It was an eye-opener for me as I realised that there were invisible people in the world who did incredible things behind the scenes. Who made things happen without any fanfare, without any need to be recognised. They didn’t ask anyone for permission, they didn’t ask anyone for resources. They simply acted on a call, and contributed what they could, and got things done.
The Invisible River Cleaners
Along the Braamfontein Spruit in Johannesburg, there are Invisibles at work almost daily. I walk my dogs 3 to 4 times per week along the Spruit. I walk the same route each day, and between the at-times-storming-river, and the cpunts (see the end for a definition) who drop their trash as they walk, the litter situation often gets worse, and then it always magically improves / disappears. I’ve also noticed that the dustbins provided by the Bryanston East Community Forum (BECF), invariably contain supermarket packets full of litter, often topped with a single latex glove. These are not placed here by municipal workers (never seen one a long the Spruit) and I’m confident it’s not any of the team from BECF (they have fancy large bags, and are usually involved in the bigger stuff).
These are Invisibles. Normal people who, for whatever reason, have taken it up on themselves to clean up the river.
- They don’t ask for permission
- They don’t ask for resources
- They don’t ask to be noticed
- They don’t ask for attention
- They don’t ask for help
- They don’t moan or complain
They simply get on with getting things done, and in this case it’s creating a beautifully clean environment for everyone who walks along the river.
There Must Be Millions Of Invisibles
Having spent 20 years thinking about Invisibles, and noticing their activity, I’m convinced that there are millions of them out there. Maybe tens of millions, even hundreds of millions.
I’m certain they’re not Invisibles in all of their lives. They’re just like superheros. From time to time they put on their Invisibility Capes, go out into the world, and get things done. No fanfare, no hype, no permission, just hard work to make something good happen.
Without them, I’m not sure where we would be?
And Finally, Imagine Our Politicians Were Invisibles
Imagine our politicians spent a little time studying the ways of the Invisibles? Imagine they woke up every morning and just got on with getting things done. Fixing things, changing things for the better, serving the communities who voted them in (of course there are a few gems out there who are like this).
Imagine they got on with the work they were voted in to do, without drawing attention to themselves and their so-called achievements, without any fanfare and hype or erecting giant billboards to encourage us to believe that they’re perpetually working for our good.
Don’t Hold Your Breath
Yeah. Unfortunately this isn’t going to happen. In fact, right now, the so-called leader of the free world, is just about as far from an Invisible as you can get. If that’s who and what the other world leaders are aspiring to be, don’t be holding your breath.
In the meantime, I’m going to keep on sending out invisible thank-yous and hugs to the real change agents who are authentically changing the world around me, for good, every single day.
BIG THANK YOU. BIG HUG.
CPUNT Definition
A person who dirties the environment by dropping their trash as they go, seemingly having no knowledge of the damage they are doing to the environment, or perhaps don’t care. CPUNT is pronounced with a silent ‘C’ when said out loud, and a silent ‘P’ when said inside your head 🙂
Not All Invisibles Clean Rivers
