Yesterday I had a call from a friend of 50 years who is now 91 and bedridden. He asked me to play and sing to him. He has always been special to me because he encouraged my career in music. But even more special, we began the 48 Teaching tapes together many years ago. (You can find them on this website.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I played and sang Danny Boy in honor of St. Patrick\u2019s Day, which is coming soon. He said it made him cry. I asked, \u201cBad cry or good cry?\u201d He said, \u201cGood cry.\u201d So I sang a myriad of songs and styles for which he was very thankful. An idea from the Teachings came to mind about \u201cbeing of service.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I presented the question, \u201cWhat does being of service mean to you?\u201d to other people I knew in the Teaching. One said that doing the dishes and cleaning the house was a way of being of service, though it probably isn\u2019t normally thought of that way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another said calling and listening to someone who lives alone is being of service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another said saying \u201cNo\u201d can be of service. You can ponder on that one because it seems like it could never be considered as a service; however, if someone asks me for money over and over but is quite capable of working and earning a living, it may be of service to say no. It increases their necessity to be responsible for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some have the ability to find humor in just about every situation. So, to me, they are being of service by giving me the option of seeing that everything might not be as serious as I am seeing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I see watering and fertilizing my garden and caring for my cat as being of service. The list is as long as you care to explore in your daily activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thought popped up, \u201cWhat\u2019s the benefit to me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve had people tell me that they like to \u201chelp\u201d people. Dr. Bob distinguished between helping and \u201cmaking a little contribution,\u201d another way of saying \u201cbeing of service.\u201d He pointed out that in order to \u201chelp,\u201d one has to see oneself as being elevated above the other. \u201cHelping\u201d gives a good feeling, but isn\u2019t that temporary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As I\u2019ve studied the Teachings, I have found that being of service gets my attention directed outward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When my attention is directed outward, I\u2019m not concentrating on what I don\u2019t<\/em> have \u2013 like more money or a better mate or a different car or more attention and approval, thinking I would be satisfied and permanently happy if I had all I wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One can ask self, \u201cWhat more do I want or need?\u201d Think\u2026 possessions, titles, fulfillment of our desires, as well as all the other things we crave. When we center in on ourselves and what we don\u2019t<\/em> have, we entrench ourselves in depression, want, anger, frustration and many other unpleasant emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How many ways can you turn your attention outward and be of service today?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yesterday I had a call from a friend of 50 years who is now 91 and bedridden. He asked me to play and sing to him. He has always been special to me because he encouraged my career in music. … Continue reading