Service

Web Meditation 10 March 2009

I’m at a ‘think tank’ for three days with other directors of Episcopal service internship programs like our Resurrection House. Along with the other directors, there are a couple of Bishops, some of the staff of Trinity Wall Street (which is the convener and host of the event) and national directors of the Lutheran Volunteer Corps and the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

Last night we did some dreaming around the idea of service in the hopes of discovering a definition of service that described our common purpose and intent with our programs. There were several common threads woven through our different stories. One of which was discovery. In several different ways people talked about discovering things about themselves, indeed even discovering themselves, through their experiences of intentional service.

It sparked in me a deeper insight into a truth I had been told before: when we serve God, we, paradoxically are freed. I think the Apostle Paul wrote about this, but several people told stories that boiled down to when they served others they were freed to be themselves. In my case it was learning that I didn’t have to have all the answers, indeed answers at all. For others it was learning what their spiritual gifts are and feeling empowered to use those gifts to build the kingdom. Still for others it was learning that they had a voice that could be raised for those that aren’t heard.

Jesus told his disciples, and still tells us today, that when we serve the least among us we are actually and literally serving him (Matt. 25:40). To look in the face of the poor is to stare into the face of Christ. But like the ancient tradition of Icons, it is really Christ seeing us, the true us minus the masks, barriers, and false identities we wear each and everyday.

There is energy that emerges from being seen for who we really are, creative energy that, I believe, can heal the world.

Questions for today:
Whom can you serve today?

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This meditation is also posted on the website of the Church of the Resurrection.