Creative Thursdays: Service
Seventh in the series of posts that celebrate creativity and spirituality.
During the pandemic, many of us found ourselves unable to serve others in traditional ways—both inside and outside of the church. That was a perfect opportunity for creative spiritual practices! My teaching and speaking skills along with an understanding of what our bodies needed during such stressful times were a perfect fit for a Zoom class for the church I was attending. Last year I turned the material into a PDF for the VIP bundle at the Small Church Conference.
You can view and/or download the PDF at this link.
My Service Practice
One of my survival skills was to be good at everything. I was a fantastic employee who could step into any task. I would rarely say no when asked to do something, and I accomplished everything with excellence—right before collapsing. Since publishing Trauma in the Pews, I have had to stop following old patterns of doing everything—once again. My practice of service requires a laser focus—and focus requires constant re-evaluation.
During my years of service in the church, I often did what was needed but was kept from pursuing work as an author—which I now understand is how I best serve others. Being an author has opened many unexpected doors to service; I find joy in serving when it aligns with my mission. Conversations with those on healing journeys or doing similar work are an essential part of my spiritual practice of service. Included are one-on-one conversations, podcasts, webinars, panels, and consultations. I am a better person and author because of these connections. Also, the daily work on the topic of trauma requires self-care! I continue to learn this lesson. I can only serve to the degree that I care for myself.