the speaking tree - Wonderful Benefits Of Remaining A Servant
Janina Gomes
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Why did i have to approach the dusk of my life before i could make this humble prayer “Lord, make me a servant“ ? Having had to survive in a fiercely competitive environment, in which the powerful dominate others, how would such a prayer predispose me to succeed? Yet, looking back now, it seems that the universe supports those who serve others with gladness.In a context where the word `servant' has ugly connotations giving as it were moral permission to treat those who work for us as somehow inferior, there are good intentioned people who serve others selflessly . It is difficult to find those who serve others without any expectation of a reward.Some choose the humblest occupations, looking after the challenged, for example, with love.
Servants of God bring happiness to others. To give a gift to someone who richly deserves it, bringing a smile to his face, empathising with those in grief, sharing the burdens of those who cannot see the end of the road, just talking and listening to those who might have fallen into traps of delusion and degradation all these are acts of good service.
Why do we call them servants? Should we not be putting them on a pedestal and paying them homage because of the noble work they do? Such people do good unconsciously , and not with ulterior motives. They do what they are called to do in a given set of circumstances, without taking any credit for the help they may have rendered others.
This `servant mentality' has changed the way i perceive others, evaluate their worth and give credit due to those who deserve it. I have seen too many fall through sheer human pride and overinflated egos to not be cautious and yet daring at the same time.
I think of enlightened souls like Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna, both luminaries who consciously chose a `servant' approach to life.Today , too, there are those who battle against poverty , illiteracy and superstition. There are many noble souls still toiling even if we can not seem to have enough of scams and moral turpitude to distract our attention.
There are many who still consider that they have a mission in life. I for one, have discovered this great truth towards the tail end of my life. And now when i awake, i ask myself, what can i do for someone who is helpless today? Can i bring a little happi ness to someone, can i share my bread?
So, i pray for Divine Grace to be a humble servant with this attitude, we become a link in a wide chain. The helpless become helpers and the helpless in turn get empowered to become uplifters.
The human race has survived because of those who recognised that their contributions are limited and not because others have climbed heights for purely selfish reasons. We tend to place much emphasis on achievements, position and power.The scales could one day tilt against those engaged in selfishness.
So every night, i thank God that he has enabled me to be the `servant' of someone in need. Every chance to do a good turn becomes a turning point in life. Jesus said: “The Son of Man came to serve rather than be served.“ My own humble prayer is that my life, too, be spent in service. “Lord, make me a servant, i pray .“
Servants of God bring happiness to others. To give a gift to someone who richly deserves it, bringing a smile to his face, empathising with those in grief, sharing the burdens of those who cannot see the end of the road, just talking and listening to those who might have fallen into traps of delusion and degradation all these are acts of good service.
Why do we call them servants? Should we not be putting them on a pedestal and paying them homage because of the noble work they do? Such people do good unconsciously , and not with ulterior motives. They do what they are called to do in a given set of circumstances, without taking any credit for the help they may have rendered others.
This `servant mentality' has changed the way i perceive others, evaluate their worth and give credit due to those who deserve it. I have seen too many fall through sheer human pride and overinflated egos to not be cautious and yet daring at the same time.
I think of enlightened souls like Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna, both luminaries who consciously chose a `servant' approach to life.Today , too, there are those who battle against poverty , illiteracy and superstition. There are many noble souls still toiling even if we can not seem to have enough of scams and moral turpitude to distract our attention.
There are many who still consider that they have a mission in life. I for one, have discovered this great truth towards the tail end of my life. And now when i awake, i ask myself, what can i do for someone who is helpless today? Can i bring a little happi ness to someone, can i share my bread?
So, i pray for Divine Grace to be a humble servant with this attitude, we become a link in a wide chain. The helpless become helpers and the helpless in turn get empowered to become uplifters.
The human race has survived because of those who recognised that their contributions are limited and not because others have climbed heights for purely selfish reasons. We tend to place much emphasis on achievements, position and power.The scales could one day tilt against those engaged in selfishness.
So every night, i thank God that he has enabled me to be the `servant' of someone in need. Every chance to do a good turn becomes a turning point in life. Jesus said: “The Son of Man came to serve rather than be served.“ My own humble prayer is that my life, too, be spent in service. “Lord, make me a servant, i pray .“
