The concept of serving others before self is not necessarily an inherent trait; in fact, you may recall playing in the sandbox or sharing your toys to be a rather traumatic experience in childhood. The idea of protecting ourselves from loss, whether of a materialistic or intrinsic nature, is normal. Our parents tell us to “share” and “be nice” in hopes of creating honest, kind, and good mannered human beings. However, at times these basic ideologies and principles for living get lost in the climb to find maximum success in attaining our goals. A vast percentage of young adults fall victim to the adage that sharing time and talents is something to provide later in life when they have more time and resources. Admittedly, in my twenties I was in that category as well, not believing I could truly make a difference outside of the hundreds of students I taught regularly.
My friends, I’m here to tell you to listen. Listen to the call to serve, to help, to use your time and talents to do what you can to make a difference – no matter how small. I believe we are all called to serve in some way, but sadly those unwilling to listen often find their work to be meaningless and unfulfilling.
To a similar end, as our society clings to new waves of technology, I often feel threatened by this double-edged sword – the consequences we face over time when we look down to communicate instead of looking up. I hear of children texting parents from within the same home to ask what’s for dinner, and parents actually texting back instead of engaging in conversation. Look up my friends, look up! Observe the earthly beauties commonly taken for granted, enjoy and admire creative minds unlike your own by actually visiting art museums and concert venues, and most importantly, engage in human interaction so that you may come to know people and their stories. It is through human beings that we learn how to be more human; sympathy, remorse, and caring are acquired emotions. I fear a society that does not comprehend how what one human does, affects us all; and similarly, how what one person does not do, affects the individual and potentially others. These are two interesting but unequal paradigms.
But, we all have a choice: “Share” and “be nice.”
Listen… listen to the call to serve. Answers may come in the subconscious of a dreamy slumber, in prayer and meditation, or an idea simply from the power of quiet observation.
Meaningful work promotes a life of purposeful fulfillment.
Pictured above left to right: Natalie Elam Akins, Gloria Elam, Carroll Smith Rodriguez from the St. Louis Alzheimer’s Association, Jennifer Elam Pyles, and Denise Elam Dauw following our last music performance for STL Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day campaign. #thelongestdaystl