Tuesday, Oct 8 2024
SEEING
WITHIN
An experience at a service project brought to light
a new perspective of service for me. Oftentimes we take
comfort in the thought that we are doing service and
helping others "selflessly" just because we
regularly attend a service project. In doing so, we
readily forget that we are serving people - individual
souls, each of whom have unique talents and abilities.
We need to understand the true meaning of service as
Swami teaches us … that in serving them, we are
serving God and in fact serving ourselves.
The New York Young Adults initiated a project at a
homeless drop-in shelter in the City. At our first meeting
at the shelter, one of the coordinators, Ray, made a
very poignant statement about service. He said, "it
is extremely important for us to put ourselves in their
shoes before trying to help them." He was referring
to the residents at the shelter who deal not only with
homelessness, but also with alcoholism, drugs, and mental
disabilities.
During our second visit to the shelter, we began with
the usual activities of helping in the kitchen and cleaning
up. It was difficult to break the ice with the clients
at the shelter who were mostly engrossed in TV or playing
dominoes. Admittedly, we didn't try very hard. I was
sitting at one of the tables trying to figure out what
I can say or do to feel useful when I noticed that one
of the men was sketching something on a piece of paper.
Later on, I spoke with Ray who introduced me to Patrick,
the artist. I looked at some of his artwork and I was
really impressed with the beauty and detail of each
piece. As I flipped through Patrick's portfolio, I kept
thinking that I should not be simply doing chores at
a shelter for nameless, faceless people in the name
of service. Each resident is a soul, struggling to realize
his or her innate divinity, just like me. Each individual
is unique, special, talented and beautiful and we should
make a conscious effort to get to know him or her.
Patrick was quiet and reserved at first when I approached
him about doing a drawing for me. He didn't interact
much when I explained what I wanted him to draw but
he was keen on doing it. I found out from workers at
the shelter that he suffers from alcoholism but I didn't
let this hinder the relationship. I gave him a copy
of an old SYAN issue along with a picture of Swami and
asked him to draw whatever came to his mind.
I went to pick up the final version of the piece with
no expectations. I didn't know if he was reliable or
if he understood what I wanted. Needless to say, I was
extremely happy with the results. I was even happier
that Patrick was starting to open up. Most unexpected
of all was that he had read the newsletter and told
me that he could really relate to the "body, mind,
and soul thing that Swami talks about." I was surprised
to hear him use the word "Swami" as he explained
how he felt. I found out that Patrick was a carpenter
by profession until his house burnt down in January
and has been at the shelter ever since. Now he is using
his hobby of drawing to help earn some money.
In sharing this experience with you, I hope that you
too are reminded that it is important to realize that
each individual is extraordinary in his or her own right.
In serving others, we are in deed truly serving God
and ourselves.
Bro Kiruba Murugaiah
New York, USA
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