"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seemingly for a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others…for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." Albert Einstein
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Being of service to others takes our focus off of ourselves and looks for how we might be useful where and how we are. When we feel grateful, we naturally want to share ourselves and our good fortune. Being in service only increases our gratitude and joy and our experience of the unity of all life.
When we choose to be of service in the depths of life’s deepest anguish, when we can engage in the deepest alchemy that life has to offer at such times, this is when we know that we have grown in Spirit. "I am alive in Spirit, Spirit is alive in me," is a chant sung in many New Thought centers written by singer songwriter Melissa Phillippe. These words point to the same idea that Einstein is pointing out in the quotation above. We know Grace through these generosities of Spirit that we share.
Times are difficult, and such times are a powerful time to know gratitude for simple things; Love is such a simple thing. Love knows no bounds nor does it require that life or anything within it be different in any way. It allows life’s difficulties to surface to find the divinity hidden within each experience. May we appreciate this divinity in all of life for the hidden gifts within each difficulty.
"Be silent as to services you have rendered, but speak of favors you have received." Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)
This modesty of spirit is a matchless empowerment of the heart and a source of deep wisdom. A single unity underlies all life, now is the best time to explore this unity.
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This is another of the two posts that I commented on last night and bookmarked to come back to again today. I have no idea what is screwed up with the comments program on OS but it is a real bother.
These two posts have been important to me and will be for Sue because we watched for the first time last night Fahrenheit 9/11 by Michael Moore. Got it from Netflix. Both of us were in tears by the time it was over. This is a good reminder that we don't have to be the way this nation has been under W.
Monte
To me, the spirit of service is epitomized by the Pine Street Inn in Boston, a pioneer in service for the homeless. All who seek shelter here (and permit healthcare help) have their feet washed. Physicians, nurses, staff, volunteers, all perform this more than symbolic act: the feet are some of the most sorely afflicted parts of the body for street people and clean feet, socks and shoes after medical care of cracked, ulcerated feet do as much for them as any other service. Shanti.