Though our days are
numbered to some unknown sum, we spend each one confidently in the company of our
fellows. For some unrevealed purpose but unsatisfied conviction, we rise each
day with a will to work for the greater good of humanity. Even when we may not
fully understand the essential good we strive to provide, we diligently traverse through fire and
briar to insure that when the day is done at least some good has been accomplished in the world.
To us, a call
to service is not simply an order to be followed, it is a conviction to live
by. Deep within our hearts exists a God-inspired passion to commit ourselves
fully and wholly to the welfare of mankind. The gospel reigns truth on our souls: to whom much is given, much is required. Requiring ourselves in
gold or in blood, in sweat or in tears, in wealth or in poverty, in fame or in
exile, we defend the ideals of service... integrity above indecency, humility before pride, faith
instead of doubt.
In essence, our
call to service is not a flattering compilation of rhetoric fashioned for the
skeptic’s ear. Neither pretentiously pious talk nor limp-wristed church offering can honor real service. Service rings truer.
We serve as a humble recognition of others who have already
modeled their life in selflessness and goodwill, and who daily encourage us to
live bravely in service. For none other than the man who has observed another’s
life fulfilled in duty can realize the positive influence of a servant’s
work—work that calls other to live honorably, morally, and courageously for the
benefit of his or her fellows. Service... a legacy inspired by boldness and preserved with grit... a common need provided by uncommon people.
Thus, guided by faith and obedient to conviction,
servants, past and present, embody a special charge: to serve is not
an obligation, but an opportunity... an opportunity to forge a more perfect future... a servant's future... mutually reinforced by shared grace and willing humility.
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ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite quotations by Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely help another without helping himself… Serve and thou shall be served.” This passage suggests that serving others may be a healthy selfishness.
ReplyDeleteEmerson also stated, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make a difference that you have lived and lived well.”
As good people age it seems one of their greatest fears is to become useless. Conversely, many people work passionately for a cause greater than themselves with the intention to make a difference in life or to make a difference in the lives of others. People seem to have an innate drive to be useful until the incentive to do so is taken away from them.
It is almost paradoxical that devious individuals, even criminals and con artists, want people to believe they are honorable. The expression, “there is even honor among thieves” certainly rings true. Regardless of the social system, relationships across the human spectrum of behavior seem to be based upon shared values and mutual respect.
In today’s political climate it seems that the desire to be responsible makes it impossible to be compassionate. Compassion is a natural emotional response that allows an individual to indulge their feelings and passively see themselves through the actions of another person. Responsibility requires a person to overcome their emotions and personally act in response to a circumstance or event.
Abraham Maslow introduced his Hierarchy of Needs Theory to explain the human organism’s basic drive to actualize itself as fully as possible and realize his or her personal potential. By realizing one’s full potential and live a meaningful existence.
Maslow believed that self-actualizing people possessed an uncanny ability to detect dishonesty in personal relationships and “in general to judge the people correctly and efficiently,” to deem them honorable and truly compassionate.
Maslow studied the lives of historical people he considered to be self-actualized in order to assess commonalities. Maslow concluded these individuals generally accepted themselves and their personal circumstances; focused on finding solutions to cultural problems rather than personal problems; and had a few intimate relationships rather than many superficial friendships. In essence, a self-actualized person has a healthy selfishness that is nurtured by serving others.