Times Of Swaziland: SERVICE TO OTHERS IS LIFE’S RENT

SERVICE TO OTHERS IS LIFE’S RENT
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Bongani Simelane on 07/12/2024 07:31:00


Service to others is a great idea. I’m not talking about ‘Would you like
fries with that?’ but actually doing something that helps other people with
their lives.Helping someone learn to read. Helping someone kick a bad habit.
Helping someone find a ray of hope in their world. Helping someone find shelter
when they are cold or a meal when they are hungry. The statement says that
service is how you pay the bills here on earth. I like the way I have worded it.
Statement
It gently reminds us that life is accompanied by responsibilities. It’s not
all fun and games, right? This statement urges us to help others in order to pay
our way through life. Pay it forward. Karma.  Good deeds. Good Turn. The concept
is familiar to many people through many different sources. An idea that good
can’t be all bad, right? I will admit that this may seem a stretch, to try to
get kindness from service to others, but I believe it’s a good fit if you
think about it.  How can you be kind without providing at least a small service
to someone? I also prefer the kindness approach, as it doesn’t sound as heavy
or involved as ‘service.’
If you’ve been thinking your way through this short discussion, you already
have a pretty good idea why kindness is important, don’t you? You should have
had events in the past where you have helped others, or even been the recipient
of kindness from others run through your head. I hope it was inspirational; I
know it was for me. Kindness is a way people help each other, and help
themselves.  It works both for needs as well as for general social interaction.
If you have ever seen an old movie with some very polite people constantly
saying small, kind pleasantries, you probably have a better understanding of
what I mean. It used to be very common in the British Empire and in many of the
Oriental cultures.
What are you planning on doing with your life?
Do you think you can get to the end of it and live a happy and fulfilling life
without service to others? Even I, as a dedicated introvert, cannot imagine
being fulfilled without showing kindness to others, and being of service. That
said, I prefer to do it quietly and unobserved, but that’s just me.
Investments
Even something as simple as treating someone with kindness (smiling and saying
hello to a stranger or holding a door for them) can make a big difference if
they’ve had a rough day.
These little things can be done many times each day for many different people,
and to me, that’s a big deal. Other things we can do can involve investments
of money or time (depending on which you have in greater abundance). Feeding the
hungry, providing clothing those without clothes, helping shelter those in need.
 These are some of the ‘big ticket’ items that sometimes scare people away
when you talk about service. Even something like feeding the hungry can be done
fairly easily and with little effort, if you know how.
My friend has been volunteering a few hours a month at a local food bank. He has
more time than cash, so he helps in the warehouse and in gathering, sorting and
boxing up food for the clients. When I helped Habitat for Humanity do a rehab on
an old house, I had plenty of time but not much money, so I helped by spackling,
sanding and then painting the ceilings (yes, I’m that tall). Later, after
Katrina, I donated money to help the people who were affected by it, as I had no
time. My friend was able to take some time off and go down and help in person.
What you do will all depend on what you can do to help at that point in time.
Our lives have cycles, busy times, slack times. Times when we have a little more
money than other times.
Times when you can do big service projects, and times when you are limited to
simple kindnesses.
All that remains is for you to figure out what cycle you are in for time, money
and effort. Once you have those parameters sorted out, all you have to do now is
select your outlet.
Where will you be of service to others? Will it be a big project, or a series of
kindnesses? Now that the decision is made, you need but take the first step, the
down payment if you will, on your rent.