Service and Sanctuary
A beloved teacher told me this past week something that I have heard a million times: we receive through giving. Something deep inside me rang like a bell when I heard her words.
This message is not new. I have heard it on the lips of many over the years and it has become something so commonly said that it strikes me a bit like hearing “an attitude of gratitude” — just another little phrase that, over time, can lose meaning from its commonality and overuse.
But what if there really is something behind this concept of service? What if there really is something transformational about being in alignment with the very laws of the universe when we look at our lives through the lens of service to ourselves, to others, to the planet, to the Divine?
It is through giving that we receive.
What if rather than thinking of serving others as a slice of the pie that is our life, it actually becomes the driving force behind everything?
Now THAT is powerful.
In working through this concept, I found it helpful to think of ways service can transform the various area of our lives. We often think of service in terms of service to others, so I’ll start with that:
Service to our community: Some of the most rewarding experiences that Philip and I have had recently are a result of participating in Leadership Collier, a program put on by the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. It has really opened up our eyes to ways that we can plug in where we live in ways that directly impact the quality of life for a lot of people here in Collier County. There are so many needs, and every bit of effort makes a huge difference for someone.
Service in our work: When our daily work is done with the goal of helping and serving others, we can see clearly the meaning of work in our lives. It is fulfilling. It is much bigger than just putting in the time and getting paid. We are part of the larger flow of energy in the world and it opens the door to so many ways to find fulfillment in the way we spend our time and our energy every day.
Service to our families: When we invest in the emotional bank accounts we have with our family members (thank you Steven Covey for that treasure), our families and the individual relationships that make up our families thrive. One on one time can be balanced with time spent as a group. But it’s the time spent doing little things, including everyone, being vulnerable, and communicating lovingly and clearly are acts of service that resonate with everyone, even our found families.
Service to self: When we serve our own needs by taking care of our bodies, feeding our minds and nurturing our spirits, we help ourselves be strong and resilient. This is the baseline from which we are able to then serve others. What does service to ourselves look like? Resting enough. Eating foods that are healthy for our bodies. Exercising. Meditating. Praying. Reading, writing, taking a long walk and cooking a pot of delicious soup. There are countless ways to serve ourselves. My entire concept of making a sanctuary space for ourselves and using it so we can decompress, relax and rejuvenate is based in meeting our personal needs. In the world I see, this investment is never selfish. It makes all of the other acts of service possible.
Service to the Earth: I planted new herbs today and as I clipped the dead flowers off of my pots, I felt myself in service to our beloved Mother Earth. I once read that what we do to the planet, we do to ourselves. Sobering isn’t it? Whether we are participating in clean up projects on our roads and beaches, recycling the bottles from which we drink, educating ourselves about the effects of plastics in the ocean or leaving food outside for the neighborhood cat that sometimes stops by our porch, there are endless ways we can show reverence and love to this big, blue marble, our home and ultimate sanctuary.
Service to the Divine: It occurs to me as I am writing this that in our families, our work, serving ourselves, our planet and all of her inhabitants, we are already in service to the Divine. We are showing gratitude for everything in our lives by approaching it with love and care, with service. This is also the very expression of reverence. But there is another aspect to serving the Divine and it involves acceptance and surrender, which I wrote about here just a couple of weeks ago.
Service is a big subject and one that is really on my mind these days. Sharing sanctuary is, to me, one of the ways I serve our sanctuary community and it’s one that lights me up with a feeling of fulfillment.
What are the areas that light you up in living a life of service? Send me a message and let me know — I’d love to hear.
With love and gratitude,
Lisa