Last week I was preoccupied with cleaning while a news program was on. He was a baby boomer, talking about baby boomers. The discussion was on the attitudes of the 1960's and 1970's, the me generation and how it brought our world to the place it is now. My ears perked up because I too after years of self involvement realized the value of stepping outside of myself to help others.
Churches have always understood the divine process around
helping others, and being of service. One of my favorite examples was Mother
Teresa, who left her life to be of service to those that the world rejected. Her entire life was made of the divine dignity
of being available for God’s creatures.
Years ago when I first got sober, it was suggested (code for strong advice), that
to stay clean, I needed to give back to my community. I was unmoved. Didn’t my
sponsor realize I needed time for me? At
the time I felt I had nothing to give. The truth was that I was more a poster
child for what not to do with your life.
I did persist and find a task to do where I was contributing to my
group. I was the coffee and clean up girl before the meeting. I made coffee and made sure the cups, creamer
and sugar were out for members. After the meeting I cleaned up left over styro
foam cups, emptied ashtrays, and cleaned up the coffee pot. In those
early days, it did indeed make me feel like I was contributing member, that I
belonged to the group and my own recovery. Later that same woman told me to do
one nice thing a day and forget about it. Do not tell a single person, open a
door, or smile. That any little thing
would count, it is all service.
The more I learn spiritually, the more I see how service work is about being trustworthy. It is caring for one of God’s creatures, and I am one of them. It is also a part of building character. Character, is what we build here on this plane and lasts with us well beyond this life. It is the true karma we aspire to. Service is an honor and a privilege. The Urantia says to help another in any way is a divine dignity. It is part of the divine give and take.
The more you give, the more you receive. This is the spiritual principle of these simple charitable acts. I want you to really let that sink in. The more you give the more you receive. This does not require foolish giving that is not healthy, it is the mere action of respecting another of God’s creatures. That is all. So when you are out and someone is carrying a bag that is too heavy, hold the door open and smile.
Years ago when I first got sober, it was suggested (code for strong advice), that
to stay clean, I needed to give back to my community. I was unmoved. Didn’t my
sponsor realize I needed time for me? At
the time I felt I had nothing to give. The truth was that I was more a poster
child for what not to do with your life.
I did persist and find a task to do where I was contributing to my
group. I was the coffee and clean up girl before the meeting. I made coffee and made sure the cups, creamer
and sugar were out for members. After the meeting I cleaned up left over styro
foam cups, emptied ashtrays, and cleaned up the coffee pot. In those
early days, it did indeed make me feel like I was contributing member, that I
belonged to the group and my own recovery. Later that same woman told me to do
one nice thing a day and forget about it. Do not tell a single person, open a
door, or smile. That any little thing
would count, it is all service.The more I learn spiritually, the more I see how service work is about being trustworthy. It is caring for one of God’s creatures, and I am one of them. It is also a part of building character. Character, is what we build here on this plane and lasts with us well beyond this life. It is the true karma we aspire to. Service is an honor and a privilege. The Urantia says to help another in any way is a divine dignity. It is part of the divine give and take.
The more you give, the more you receive. This is the spiritual principle of these simple charitable acts. I want you to really let that sink in. The more you give the more you receive. This does not require foolish giving that is not healthy, it is the mere action of respecting another of God’s creatures. That is all. So when you are out and someone is carrying a bag that is too heavy, hold the door open and smile.
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