|
Today's
Meditation:
Service
is a choice that we make, obviously. We decide whether
we're going to devote ourselves to activities and efforts
that serve others or those that serve ourselves. It's
understandable when we choose to serve ourselves--even
necessary in many ways. But it's also important that
we focus our efforts on activities that serve others, for
when we choose to do so, we enrich our own lives a great
deal as well as enriching the world around us.
Our
service doesn't need to be all-or-nothing. We don't
all need to be Albert Schweitzers to be of service to our
fellow human beings. When I made the choice to be a
teacher, I made the decision to be of service to others
while still earning a living for myself and my
family. I earn less than I would in other jobs, but I
don't suffer from a lack of money because my wants are
pretty simple. And the lower
amounts of money that I earn are definitely compensated for
by the fulfillment that I feel when I help students to learn
new things and to empower themselves in new ways.
We
can serve others in many, many ways. We can give
encouragement and compliments, we can help out with grocery
bills, we can teach--about finances, about housekeeping,
about maintaining things we own, about relationships.
When we do serve others, we're fulfilling the highest
calling of the human being--the improvement of our species,
without worrying about how we're going to be paid
back. Service can be simple, and it can be wonderful,
as long as we don't ruin our service with expectations of
receiving something in return for our service.
Think
about it--can you come up with five ways that you can serve
other people today? If you can, try to take action on
them, and you'll find that your day becomes a wonderful day.
|
