Spiritual Growth and Selfless Service

What do you see as the place, importance, and purpose of service in spiritual growth?

  Character development through spiritual growth sets the stage for becoming an outstanding and exceptional person, which then transfers into actions. It also works in the reverse order, in that actions fitting of an outstanding and exceptional person sets the stage for stellar character development and spiritual growth. This is a bit like the Greek Ouroboros. Character development through spiritual growth are a guide for right actions, which will flow into being a good person, which will lead to right actions, and on it goes. One emanates from and flows into the other.

I think when it comes to service as it relates to spiritual growth, we can actually look to the U.S. Army’s concept of LDRSHIP for some solid grounding. The “S” in LDRSHIP stands for “Selfless Service.” At first glance, the concept of “selfless service” seems like it might not have a place in character development born of spiritual growth and maturity. Perhaps many think that spiritual growth just makes us better people, but not necessarily push us to give selfless service. In our world today, “selfless service” seems to reflect a submissiveness, a weakness, being too kind and not standing up for oneself; how could that possibly be a strength?

Strength is not measured by authority and one’s power over others, nor is it measured by a level of emotions. “Strength” derived solely from an authoritarian standpoint is, in fact, weakness, and weakness is the path of least resistance. The path of least resistance takes no responsibility; it merely follows gravity. It can be quite forceful, like the river which has carved out the Grand Canyon over millennia; forceful, yet weak in its forcefulness, following the path of least resistance.

Likewise, what is this selfless part of the equation? Does being selfless mean shrinking into the background, not being confident of one’s abilities, not hogging the limelight, or not taking credit for hard work? Those all describe low self-esteem and low self-confidence, not selfless service.
The author C.S. Lewis asserts that, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” And I think this is a true understanding of humility, and applies as well to the concept of selfless. Just as true humility is not humiliation, so true selflessness is not poor self-esteem. In fact, being selfless and giving selfless service in a balanced, healthy way requires a great deal of confidence, groundedness, and maturity.

What, then, are the hallmarks of selfless service from the perspective of spiritual growth? A spiritually mature person will have the ability to empower others, to share the credit, and allows and encourages dialogue and conversation. They build bridges for conversation rather than demanding things be done their way. They aren’t afraid to listen to feedback, and they are willing to consider other ideas, or to at least let other voices be heard, even if they make a final decision that is different.

Bob Moawad, well known coach, author, CEO, teacher, leader, speaker, and consultant, said that, “the aim of the great leader is not to get people to think more highly of the leader; it’s to get people to think more highly of themselves.” I believe this applies as well to the purpose of service in spiritual growth.

Major Dick Winter, Commander of the E Company, 101st Airborne Division, during WWII, shares in his memoirs, Beyond A Band of Brothers,  his 10 principles of leadership. I believe they can serve as a model for spiritual growth and service. I have modified them to fit our discussion:

Strive to be a spiritually mature person of character, competence, and courage. Serve from the front. Stay in top mental and spiritual shape, reaching for spiritual growth every day. Prevent burn out by knowing your limits, and by having good boundaries. Know what fills your well, and make certain to find what nurtures your soul. Be prepared to face challenges. Know the task at hand, your resources, and always consider Plans B, C, D, E, F... Always have a backup plan, as well as people who have your back. Ask for help when needed. Serve well, and serve with open eyes. Remain humble. Ask yourself every day if you have done your best, and ask for guidance to continue growing along spiritual lines. Always keep in mind that you are ultimately serving G!d in the world. Let your mistakes be teachable moments.

Aristotle wrote,  “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”  Warren Buffet  said, “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”  John Dryden  tells us, “We first make our habits, then our habits make us.”  And Frank Outlaw  wrote, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

Spiritual growth and selfless service go hand in hand. Spiritual growth makes me want to be of service, while service challenges me to grow spiritually. By choosing to be the kind of spiritually mature person who embraces selfless service, I not only make a better me, but I get to help make better others, as well. I learn to live forward, to live in the land of potential rather than the prison of defeat. I not only make a better me, but I get to help make better others, as well. I learn to live forward, to live in the land of potential rather than the prison of defeat. In essence, service and repairing the world, tikkun olam, is enhanced through spiritual growth and repairing the soul, tikkun hanefesh, and vice versa.