“If the past cannot teach the present, and the father cannot teach the son, then history need not have bothered to go on, and the world has wasted a great deal of time.” –Russell Hoban
Welcome back and thanks for sticking around. I understand this series is a bit of a departure. However, I always try to stay real and write what I’m inspired to write. I believe if I have an itch I need to scratch it. If I’m inspired to write about something, I write about it.
I understand this topic might create a twinge, a pang, a pain and I hope that means you need to read it. If nothing else, I is therapeutic for me and part of my grieving process. But I hope It adds some form of value or service to you. And look at that! Service is the topic of the day!
Service? WTF, right? Who wants talk about service, let alone how to be of service for others? Can you relate to that? That was my attitude for a long time. It was just the way my selfish, self-centered self operated. It was all about me and I simply did not give consideration otherwise. I seemed to be wired to focus all on me and what’s in it for me. So, thinking of being of service to others just wasn’t part of my consciousness.
Don’t get me wrong, I was not some uncaring, selfish jerk that treated people poorly who sought the rewards at any cost, stepping on the backs of my fellows. Although, I did have my moments, I simply did not know another way. Let me be clear that it was not for lack of examples in my life because I had plenty. But again, the lessons and principles just took longer to click for me.
I am sure you have already guessed that the featured example in this part Is none other than dear old dad. That’s why I love you guys, you’re so smart, it makes me feel smart!
As a young boy I remember my dad helping others. He would pick up scary, (and smelly), characters on the road and give them rides. He would take someone off the street and offer help; A meal, a shower, a talk, maybe even a seat at our dinner table.
There were several times I recall shopping with him and he would tell the cashier at the grocery store that he was paying for the guy behind us. When I asked why he did that, he would simply say because they need it more than we do.
He would give money to a family to buy toys at Christmas. When I asked why, he would simply say because they need it more than we do.
At some point in time the scary (and smelly) characters didn’t come to our house as much. I found out that my mom told my dad he had to help them outside because she was not comfortable with them in our house with small children. But our house was always filled with people, especially during holidays. There were more people at our table that were not family than there were family.
As I grew up I realized that all these people. All these strangers were family. They were part of our extended family. They were people who needed help. They were people who needed a safe place to be during the holidays. People who needed to feel loved. People who needed what my dad (and mom) so freely gave.
That is just a slight glimpse in to the lesson of service I learned from watching and listening. I didn’t always understand why at first, but little by little it would sink in, again, preparing me to connect the dots when the time came for me to be of service.
What I learned was what true service is; the act of giving while expecting nothing in return. Giving to give and help another. It doesn’t have to be money or things; it can be anything that fills a need, and even a want of another. It’s as simple as opening a door for another person and letting them enter first. Or allowing, wait for it, another car to merge instead of speeding up to close the gap. It can even be as simple as smiling at a stranger when walking your dog in the park.
These may seem like little things but little things add up and they grow up to be big things. The more we do these little “things” of service the more our spirit of service grows. When our spirit of service grows bigger It begins to be part of our nature. When our nature integrates the component of service others see that, and when the time comes for them to be of service they too connect the dots.
What’s more powerful than connecting the dots of service? How about the connection of compassion, gratitude, and service? What do all these individual principles mean?
Stay tuned.
Talk Soon,
Kevin W @LEAP272
Owner-Operator
You have to leap if you want to live
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