I've been thinking about this for some time and while it is lovely to think that our actions can change the world, if don't see immediate results to our efforts, we can feel demotivated. It is true that the goal of doing service and changing the world should not be for personal loathing but we are not perfect and sometimes results can help keep motivated.
We do selfless acts of service and work towards the common good and when we see the results of our collective action then we are motivated and we are filled with joy. Do you see though the key point made there was COLLECTIVE ACTION. And yes, once again we think: "I can't change the world, can I?". If we look at history, a lot of great things started of with the efforts on ONE single person. What we can look for is like-minded people with whom we CAN change the world...isn't that what our beloved Universal House of Justice tells us?
When we think about community service or plans for development what most commonly comes to mind is leaving everything and relocating to a place where socioeconomic issues are quite apparent but the thing is that although those places are indeed full of opportunities for service, we can always start in our own backyard.
It doesn't matter where you are! Service opportunities and people willing to help change the world are everywhere. Through our interactions with the community we can establish fruitful friendships and determine what the needs of the community are and how our individual and collective capacities can fulfil these needs.
Now, we've made a list of just some of the things a person can do in the event that the thought of making a long-term commitments or undertaking a mighty project makes them feel overwhelmed. These are things that WILL and DO have an impact on the lives of others and are things that most of us can easily do in a group or by ourselves:
- Support your local core activities - children's classes, the junior youth empowerment program, study circles, devotional meetings
- Host or help hosting a fireside or deepening on elevated topics such as spiritual and material development, the importance of education and the purpose of life
- Give your time to a charity of choice - can be weekly or monthly or perhaps even a one-off thing. Charities are often looking for volunteers for events or to help them with admin tasks.
- Donate blood at your local health centre
- Support a local nursing home by having regular visits to their residents - nothing fancy! Sometimes you will find that people are just happy to talk :)
- Be a source of happiness to the children's ward at your local hospital. You can share songs and prayers with them and talk to their and their families...you'd be surprised at the results.
- Find out some collection charities and give what you can to them. With the current world situation, there are many of these organizations you can get involved with.
- Offer your services to a neighbour who requires special assistance for grocery shopping.
- Be a friend. In our communities there are individuals who either live by themselves or their families tend to be more isolated from the community for one reason or another -sometimes this reason being age-; being a true friend to them can mean more than you can imagine.
- Help plant new trees near you
- Support your local core activities - children's classes, the junior youth empowerment program, study circles, devotional meetings
- Host or help hosting a fireside or deepening on elevated topics such as spiritual and material development, the importance of education and the purpose of life
- Become a "big brother" to a child in need. Several charities set this up and you can get involved if you like working with children and youth. Remember, they are the future and lean the most from example.
...the list can go on but I'll stop here...happy serving! :)