Thanks for serving!

.... we had an OCF conference call the other day and our leader ended it on this note of gratitude. It is such an obvious thing that my role in this new job title, and in life, is to be of service, to serve, to be a servant for a greater purpose. But it is something that I had forgotten somehow. I think this is natural when we are caught up in the busy-ness of life - we get caught up in the here-and-now and forget to make mental/physical time for all the stuff that isn't a temporary distraction. It's sometimes hard to remember that that is what all of this "stuff" is. It was especially hard during Pippin to not get hypnotized into thinking that the show was not but a fleeting bit of a nice experience in the grand scheme of life because I loved it so much. But I can't help but wonder... then what? and then what? and then what? and then what? and then what? and then what? And ultimately I come to the conclusion that we are meant to love and serve and that is the end of the then whats? And then all of these experiences that we have.. school, sports, music, theater, work, family, etc. take on a new transcendent purpose and we can go through life not consumed by the worldliness of each of them, but by the opportunities for loving and serving that are inherent in each one.

I've been questioning what my role has been in each of the schemas that currently comprise my life recently and, today, this statement somehow made its way to the forefront of my consciousness and made me feel blessed that I have so many opportunities to fulfill this calling. What immediately comes to mind is my role in Much Ado About Nothing - a waitress/bartender. I am literally a servant. I serve drinks and tend tables and clean up after everyone else and backstage I make sure everyone is comfortable enough to perform to their greatest capacity. It is very much a role that takes a backseat to the other leading roles -and I love it! In fact, when I think about it, I can reimagine my entire life as being made up of opportunities to serve - family, school, athletics, theater, relationships, etc. They are all glorious opportunities for us (me) to realize how/what/in what ways we can give of ourselves.

The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return.