I cannot remember when I began this ritual, so I know it has been part of my life for a while at least since the early 1990’s. Growing up, my parents always taught me how important it was to perform acts of kindness for others, to do good in the world, and to work to make this world a better place. I think it was when I was when I was a part of the Mormon Church for a while and heard this song for the first time. They lyrics to the song became a ritual for me.
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
These are the questions I find myself asking myself each night. I begin the day by asking how I can be of service. What I am able to bless others, whether I am aware of how I have blessed them or not, I bless myself. There are times when I wonder how can I be of service today? Can the Ultimate use me in some ways. Then I remember the words of Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr who said “Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Each day as I wake up, I ask for all that I say and do to be led by grace and with the intent of love. Sometimes I do not even need to leave my house to be of service. As the song says, there are chances for work all around. Sometimes I read the post on Facebook of people who are having a challenging day and stop to life them in prayer. There are so many opportunities in this world to be of service; to share love or to lighten someone’s load.
There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, “Sometime I’ll try,”
But go and do something today.
’Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love’s labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.[1]
The one thing I am most grateful for is that the Ultimate Consciousness always provides me with opportunities to be of service, to share that unconditional love and awareness with others. Those opportunities often times come in unexpected ways. For example, there have been a number of times when I have felt as if I was supposed to tell somebody I was sending them love, light, and positive energy and they would write back and say how did you know I needed to hear this right now. The reality is that I did not know, but Spirit did.
Each day, I am remembering how important it is to take the time to be quiet and present and simply ask, “How can I be of service?”
