“A million ‘thoughts that count’
don’t hold a candle to the light of one solid act.”
I’ve always been a person who’s willing to give my time and attention to the needs of others in the form of actively listening to them, providing a safe place, then offering guidance when it felt warranted and that it would be received. This is such a core value for me that my family will often be stuck in some random location, the grocery store, a parking lot, or the gym when a simple greeting of pleasantry turns into a full on deep personal conversation. For reasons unbeknownst to me the emotional depth quickly goes to a point where it would be damaging to excuse myself and leave my fellow human in such a vulnerable state. My family has come to accept this and gives me and those I serve the grace of the moment even when it sometimes ends up being more than a simple moment. These definitely feel like a solid act to me and I would gather to those with me, but I have been blessed to be friends with a couple who by design live in a state of consistent service.
They work hard, play hard, and love hard. Their “one solid act” is dedication, dedication to show up consistently regardless of what life throws their way. One solid act stacked upon another, and another is a constant in how they live. As a result they are a beacon for many who struggle particularly with the impact of addiction. They share their faith and time in such a consistent way one can’t help but wonder what is left for themselves (a conversation I frequently have with them, but will save for another article).
Each of us has witnessed these individuals, in fact, they are all around us, serving the world in solid fashion. Some of us get to witness the single act where someone pays for a stranger’s groceries at the checkout, or for another’s order at the drive through. Others have seen the ones who consistently open the doors of a food pantry, set up chairs for a meeting, or facilitate a weekly group. If we haven’t seen these acts first hand we have at least heard of them. Inspired by the story we often think, “I’d like to be like that some day,” only to rationalize away that you’d do it if you had more money, more time, more energy. The fact of the matter is you do have the money, time, and energy, it’s just a sacrifice to part with it.
There are many roadblocks to taking action to serve. A big one is our self perception of lack makes us feel like what we have to offer isn’t good enough and might even be rejected. Though this is a possibility, I’m guessing more often than not people identify with the intended value of the act. I recently talked to someone who had in the past struggled financially. However now, they are at a point that when ever someone is asking for a donation the standard denomination of the household is $1,000. I can’t fathom giving a thousand dollars for one donation let alone to every charitable cause that comes my way. The fact is, I don’t need to. In that same regard, this individual couldn’t imagine letting someone bend their ear for 20 minutes, much less hearing someones pain and struggle for an hour. I may not feel ready to pay a person’s whole grocery cart, but an anonymous $25 contribution, I most certainly can handle.
The reality is we all have acts of service we can provide to others that not only help those we serve, but help us to feel connected not only to others, but to the good in humanity. You don’t need to be a saint, billionaire, or super hero to give of yourself and what is yours. The small act suitable to where you are at in life today is just the right amount. Who knows, the right amount of you might be the saving grace of the person you choose to serve.
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