09/18/2023
Core Value Check-Up #7: Being of service and doing good in the world
Wow, so this series has taken us way longer to complete than we expected! But, we’re still going. Here’s how we’re doing with Core Value #7: Being of service and doing good in the world
Harrison: What does this even mean? Can 1 person who isn’t a political, cultural, or business leader do anything that counts as service or good in the world? The short answer is yes, be the change that you want to see in the world. Live it out and let your inner light shine on others.
This is one of the hardest gut checks because it is asking how well do you live up to your ideal everyday? What percentage of your day do you, Harrison, image Christ to a point that others see him and not you? Better than I did yesterday and that will be my answer for the rest of my life.
As Mel Robins often says, be a hollow bone, a conduit for what needs to happen. I certainly have thoughts and goals, beliefs and values, and I do chase after them. But man, are they usually off base and I have to be humble enough to adjust course to where it should be. If I am not constantly reminding myself that I am here for service to help create a better world, I will quickly head in the wrong direction. But committing to a routine and a life based on values, kinda hard to actually find myself heading the wrong way.
Lauren: I think about this value as having a lot of layers. It’s not limited by scale. Some days, I am only of service to my immediate family. Other days, I have the opportunity to serve clients and members of my community. Other days, I get the chance to do something, like make a donation, that will go towards the good of people I will likely never know.
As a Christian, I aim to “serve the Lord with gladness,” knowing that every step I take matters to God and that I should do it with gratitude, even if what I need to do is not my favorite. This is not easy and a lot of times, I get bogged down with my to-do list or I get frustrated with whatever roadblocks show up during my day. However, there’s no limit to the amount of times I can let God reorient me and point me in the direction where I can be of the most service.
My days are so much better when I serve my husband and children with love and intentionality, instead of just going through the motions. Likewise, I find I have better interactions with clients when I approach them with a servant’s heart. This value is really about keeping your aim true, pointed towards being a value-added to the world, no matter the scale of your impact.
