| NOVEMBER I |
SERVICE COMMENTARY: I believe one of our Divine Purposes in life is to serve, or more simply said,
“to help one another.” One of the most healing things a person can do is reach out beyond their own
pain and help another. The Universe has set it up that when we help and support one another we feel
good about ourselves and this in itself will increase our own healing process.
Service is an extension of “The Healing Practice of Kindness and Compassion,” however it has a nuance
of difference, because it will require one of our most valued personal commodities...our time. Service
comes with a commitment to help people, whether it is holding a friend’s hand while she is undergoing
chemotherapy, or joining a cause to stand against domestic violence, whatever your heart leads you to
in helping another is what you should be doing.
One of the things you will encounter in your path to healing is others who are coming up the road, who
are in the place where you may have been a couple of years ago. To offer your wisdom and counsel to
those newcomers is a priceless gift. Support through experience and wisdom can help another person
move faster through healing, I suppose that is why there are support groups for almost every kind of
pain in the world.
However, we must realize that unless we start to help one another there will be an increase in pain and
suffering in the world. If we are to ease our own pain, we must alleviate the pain of others as well.
Again this practice comes with a warning not to get hooked into enabling, rescuing, or codependence.
When choosing who to help make sure that your help will empower that person to get through a
difficult time in their life and not keep them stuck in dysfunctional behavior.
As far as how to choose where to serve in this world, I strongly suggest that you let your heart be your
guide. To assist you in knowing how to offer your support I suggest you read the following books:
Bodhisattva Mind: Teachings to Cultivate Courage and Awareness in the Midst of Suffering, Awakening
Compassion, and The Noble Heart, all are written by Pema Chodron. These will help you on your path to
share your healing with the world.
“to help one another.” One of the most healing things a person can do is reach out beyond their own
pain and help another. The Universe has set it up that when we help and support one another we feel
good about ourselves and this in itself will increase our own healing process.
Service is an extension of “The Healing Practice of Kindness and Compassion,” however it has a nuance
of difference, because it will require one of our most valued personal commodities...our time. Service
comes with a commitment to help people, whether it is holding a friend’s hand while she is undergoing
chemotherapy, or joining a cause to stand against domestic violence, whatever your heart leads you to
in helping another is what you should be doing.
One of the things you will encounter in your path to healing is others who are coming up the road, who
are in the place where you may have been a couple of years ago. To offer your wisdom and counsel to
those newcomers is a priceless gift. Support through experience and wisdom can help another person
move faster through healing, I suppose that is why there are support groups for almost every kind of
pain in the world.
However, we must realize that unless we start to help one another there will be an increase in pain and
suffering in the world. If we are to ease our own pain, we must alleviate the pain of others as well.
Again this practice comes with a warning not to get hooked into enabling, rescuing, or codependence.
When choosing who to help make sure that your help will empower that person to get through a
difficult time in their life and not keep them stuck in dysfunctional behavior.
As far as how to choose where to serve in this world, I strongly suggest that you let your heart be your
guide. To assist you in knowing how to offer your support I suggest you read the following books:
Bodhisattva Mind: Teachings to Cultivate Courage and Awareness in the Midst of Suffering, Awakening
Compassion, and The Noble Heart, all are written by Pema Chodron. These will help you on your path to
share your healing with the world.
| REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 1 ASPIRATION: This week, I aspire to reach beyond myself and spend some of my time helping another person. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. ~Mohammed Ali ~DAY 2~ The wise person understands that his own happiness must include the happiness of others. ~Dennis Weaver ~DAY 3~ Anywhere I see suffering that is where I want to be, doing what I can. ~Diana, Princess of Wales ~DAY 4~ Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily. ~Sally Koch ~DAY 5~ We are rich only through what we give, and poor only through what we refuse. ~Anne-Sophie Swetchine ~DAY 6~ Serving others will almost always inconvenience you. Push past yourself and heed the call to help others when it comes. ~Unknown ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week there were times I set aside time to help another. Now breathe in how good it felt to be useful to another. Then breathe out the wish: May everyone in need of help have someone who will take time for them. Now, look at your short-falls. This week there were times I was unable to find time in my schedule to help someone I knew needed me. Breathe in the guilt you felt being unavailable to help and breathe out the wish: May all those who become to wrapped up in their own lives realize that there is healing in service. Feel free to use your own words in this practice. |
| Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve, you only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.... ~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.~ |
| SERVICE |
| REPEAT ASPIRATION EVERY DAY FOR 7 DAYS WEEK 2 ASPIRATION: This week I will some take the time to listen to the problems of another. SUPPORTS ~DAY 1~ Only a life lived for others is worth living. ~ Albert Einstein ~DAY 2~ Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~ William James ~DAY 3~ It is in the shelter of each other that the people live. ~Unknown ~DAY 4~ In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us. ~Flora Edwards ~DAY 5~ Men exist for the sake of one another. ~ Marcus Aurelius ~DAY 6~ What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. ~ Albert Pine ~DAY 7~ REST AND REVIEW Now, without judgment review your week. This week I sat and truly listened to the problems of another with an open heart. Now breathe in how good it felt to be supportive. Then breathe out the wish: May everyone who is suffering from loneliness and rejection in this world, find a listening ear. Now, look at your short-falls. This week there were times when I just blew off someone who was trying to tell me what was going on with them. Breathe in guilt you felt by not being there for someone in need and breathe out the wish: May all those who become self absorbed be spared from closing down their heart. Feel free to use your own words in this practice |
| Make us worthy, to serve our fellow-men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands, this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy. ~Pope Paul VI ~ |
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