The Heart of A Labor of Love is A Heart of Service

I was privileged to have a wonderful conversation this week with wise women friends.  We were discussing Service, specifically the question of how each of us is called to Serve at this moment in human evolution. 

This is a weighty personal exploration and yet some of the discussion was more general about Service.  What it is and conditions under which it thrives or fails.  We read an article, which I think I’ve mentioned here before, Helping, Fixing or Serving by Rachel Naomi Remen, which was very helpful.  http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=218

One definition of Service, from Merriam-Webster, is a “contribution to the welfare of others.”  Many writings about Service speak about selfless service.  As we approached this topic, some of my wise friends recalled experiences from earlier in their lives where Service to others was required (or felt required) and left them feeling depleted or exhausted.  We were looking for a different framework or paradigm for Service. 

Some ideas we landed on feel very relevant to the idea of a personal Labor of Love Project.  I share them here as a way to think about approaching Service through your Labor of Love.

• When we are truly IN Service, we honor ourselves with our Service, meaning we don’t deplete and exhaust ourselves.
• True Service comes from a joyful heart, meaning we enjoy and are re-energized by our Service. (As opposed to doing it grudgingly or resentfully.)
• Service starts with an intention, an ideal or value (compassion, love, etc.) we hold and find ways to bring to life through actions, small or large.
• Service isn’t necessarily a discrete act, but rather a way of being in the world.  (As in, I hold the intention to be in Service to others.)
• We are quick to downplay or discount the ways in which we serve and yet we will likely never know all of the ripple effects from our actions, whether large or small.  
• One cannot pour from an empty cup, and so we cannot Serve if we are empty vessels.  Thus self-care is critical, and in fact, Self-Care is Service. 

From this conversation, my biggest takeaway is that the Heart of a Labor of Love is having a Heart of Service.  By this I mean starting a Labor of Love requires the sincere desire to be in Service (making a contribution to the welfare of others) and to bring certain values to life through one’s Service.  With that sincere desire in place, everything else can be sorted out.

I’ve been finding many ways to bring my value of compassion to life. Beyond the Little Free Pantry, I am keeping a box packed with non-perishable food and water in my car and giving these items to homeless people whenever I have a chance. Last week when we had a cold snap, I took a homeless man to lunch to get him out of the cold for a while. These are things I never before could have imagined myself doing. With my Heart of Service awakened, I am finding there are innumerable ways to bring my compassion to life.

My dear friends, what does your heart tell you about its desires to Serve? How do you open your heart and listen to it?  What values are you seeking to bring to life through your Service?  You might enjoy my friend Gayle’s meditation, “Self-Care as Service,” which is here for you. 

With Love, Hope, and Action for a Better World,

Colleen