Since we all understand “serving” differently, my goal in this post is to re-envision or redefine our understanding of serving. In a way, if our understanding of serving is a box, then instead of thinking outside of the box, I want to grab an eraser and give you a blank canvas.
So I want you take a moment and indicate where you are personally at in regards to serving and where your group is at in regards to serving on this diagram.
The fact is, our lives are filled with opportunities to serve in every moment, and most of us are serving on a regular basis, without even knowing it.
- i.e. When you choose to do those dishes, that’s an act of service.
- i.e. When you choose to shovel your neighbor’s sidewalk as you do your own, that’s an act of service.
- i.e. When you wave “thank you” while you are driving, rather than giving people another gesture, that’s an act of service.
However, especially in group life, serving has become a task, rather than a regular rhythm of our groups. Serving has become a task because we myopically view serving merely as a project that we do together, in a concerted effort, rather than something that we would do ourselves. It’s unnatural for us.
Now, I’m not saying, “Don’t get together to serve.” What I am suggesting is that we admit that there are some inherent problems in service projects as we’ve come to know them.
