Blog entry for:
Sun, Dec 31, 2006 07:41:14 AM
∞ i can find opportunities to be of service in nearly every area of my life ∞.
posted: Sun, Dec 31, 2006 07:41:14 AM
so service to my community, my family, my employer, and my fellowship is what i am thinking about this morning. or supposed to be concentrating on this morning. yes the world would be a whole lot worse if no one did any service at all. yes, the world is a bit better because i am no longer using and taking from the world around me. but am i really being of service, and does my effort really make a difference? an interesting point to ponder.
there has been times in my life when all i wanted to do was make a BIG splash on the world in every sense. i had the feeling that i needed to be more than i was and was disappointed that i seemed to be fated to live and die in relative anonymity. i thought i wanted to be someone that made a big difference on all of the world and i would ponder how to do that. i knew that i lacked the characteristics to be some sort of saint. and honestly i lacked the capacity to be evil enough to gain worldwide notoriety, but if i caused enough chaos and instigated enough things by pulling the strings of those around me, maybe i would achieve my fifteen minutes of fame.
today, i understand that the service or the lack thereof, affects those with whom i share my life. each action i undertake, creates a ripple effect that may not tip the balance of world events, but does affect the lives and fortunes of those same people. i can create a bit calm or serenity, or i can create a bit of chaos, the choice is mine. the part of me i call my disease, does not always choose to create chaos, but most of the time, it chooses to do nothing to be of service, after all if i do not do it, someone else will. so creating chaos by lack of serving others is the default choice for that part of me.
do i want to be more than i am? yes i do! the only way i can be that man is to do the NEXT RIGHT THING, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. doing the next right thing by meeting my responsibilities to my friends, my family, those i love and the fellowship that has given me this new manner of living is one way i can be of service to the world around me, and it is a choice i choose to make today! after all it is just a day at a time. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!
there has been times in my life when all i wanted to do was make a BIG splash on the world in every sense. i had the feeling that i needed to be more than i was and was disappointed that i seemed to be fated to live and die in relative anonymity. i thought i wanted to be someone that made a big difference on all of the world and i would ponder how to do that. i knew that i lacked the characteristics to be some sort of saint. and honestly i lacked the capacity to be evil enough to gain worldwide notoriety, but if i caused enough chaos and instigated enough things by pulling the strings of those around me, maybe i would achieve my fifteen minutes of fame.
today, i understand that the service or the lack thereof, affects those with whom i share my life. each action i undertake, creates a ripple effect that may not tip the balance of world events, but does affect the lives and fortunes of those same people. i can create a bit calm or serenity, or i can create a bit of chaos, the choice is mine. the part of me i call my disease, does not always choose to create chaos, but most of the time, it chooses to do nothing to be of service, after all if i do not do it, someone else will. so creating chaos by lack of serving others is the default choice for that part of me.
do i want to be more than i am? yes i do! the only way i can be that man is to do the NEXT RIGHT THING, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. doing the next right thing by meeting my responsibilities to my friends, my family, those i love and the fellowship that has given me this new manner of living is one way i can be of service to the world around me, and it is a choice i choose to make today! after all it is just a day at a time. HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!
∞ DT ∞
The views expressed on this page are solely the opinion of the author.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
While the author is a member of a 12 Step recovery fellowship, these writings are not intended to endorse or express the published wisdom of any fellowship.
These writings are not meant to be socially or politically correct, and if you take issue with any opinions expressed, please seek the guidance of someone wiser than me.
Another Look!
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☯ The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao ☯
by Lao-Tse
Translated by James Legge
Book 2
2) Tao when nursed within one's self,
His vigour will make true;
And where the family it rules
What riches will accrue!
The neighbourhood where it prevails
In thriving will abound;
And when 'tis seen throughout the state,
Good fortune will be found.
Employ it the kingdom o'er,
And men thrive all around.