Love and Service Produce Joy

“I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted, and behold; service was joy.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore

Are you a stickler for always following the rules? Were you that kid in school always getting gold stars for following all the regulations? Did they make you the hall monitor and safety guard at the bus stop because you adhered to the rules? Do you still beat people over-the-head with the rule book? When it comes to the world of the Spirit, do we win people to God with regulations or by an adequate demonstration of love and service?

Our churches and rooms of recovery should look more like the emergency room than a formal reception at the Ritz. When lost people stumble into our presence, are we more concerned with their physical appearance and adherence to the “rules” than meeting them where they are in life and helping them take the next steps on their spiritual journey? Do we pay more attention to their hairstyle, facial hair, body piercings, tattoos, and how they dress versus their spiritual condition?  How adamant are we that newcomers get in line with the so-called “rules? ” Does our body language and tone suggest they turn back around and go back where they came from immediately?

If our chief responsibility is to deliver an adequate example of God’s presence and create an environment where people can engage with the Spirit, how beneficial and productive is it to beat people over the head with the rules, especially our guests or newcomers? What attracted you to your house of worship or homegroup? The Soup Nazi, or people extending love and service? If you want to experience absolute joy in your soul, then you must strive to create a joyful experience for everyone everywhere. Love and service produce joy, and joy is love and service. Put down the rule book and instead offer a welcoming word, a firm handshake, and when appropriate, even a simple hug. Learn to spend more time helping people rediscover life than memorizing the rule book. They will be grateful you did, and hopefully, they come back and remain to stay.

Lord, help me live by the law of attraction versus promotion. Please help me create a spiritual environment everywhere I go. Please remove any self-righteousness the prohibits me from spreading Your joy through love and service, especially with the guests and newcomers in my presence. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine, always materialize, now and forever, Amen.