Being of service for others means helping those in need. Being with them as equals in solidarity is important too rather than behaving in an one-up or superior position. While we perhaps are more likely to volunteer or help others during the holiday season starting with Thanksgiving, we might want to consider doing so year round. It's the right thing to do for others and it's the right thing to do for ourselves as well. Thomas G. Plante Ph.D.
Helping others feels good and very often makes me feel good about myself. But that should not be the motivation to help others should it? And as altruistic as we want to be , we can only give so much. It's important to recharge and take good care of yourself. And yet we are taught that in giving we recieve.It can be confusing.
"For it is in giving that we receive" Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi,
Self care is important , one can not pour from an empty cup. As Jedi we learn to meditate, take care of our bodies through sport and food. And most the important aspect the mental part being in a good headspace so we can have the benefits of helping others.It builds character , by doing the right thing for others you are also more inclined to do the right thing for yourself. But then, when do we help? Once i found myself giving advice to a friend who has been through a lot when she was younger and after i did that i wondered. Did i help , or did i make it worse for her? It's often hard to say the right thing even if you DO the right thing, in this case standing by a friend. I wanted to help her make a decision and now i worry that i made it worse because the pain of her not being able to do that could well be flared up by what i said. It's difficult. We want to do the right thing and often we do, but the incident has made me realise and made me aware to choose my words wisely and be more emphatic.And even as a clergy member it can happen that we don't say the right thing. But what i do know is that we are here, for you , Always. How much as we want to help others we have to realise we are only human ourselves. And sometimes you serve by just listening.
The Force is with you , Always
