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Making A Difference Through Service – Opening Event of MSIA's Conference of Heartfelt Service by Penelope Bright, photos by David Sand
My favorite part of MSIA's Conference (aside from the Light and Sound show that the Travelers graciously produce for us each year) is walking down the escalator at the Sheraton Universal Hotel to the Grand Ballroom area, and meeting and greeting all my dear friends from around the world, people I see only once a year, sometimes once a decade. It’s a little like a United Nations convention, except we all speak the same language of the Spirit. This year’s opening workshop was titled “Making a Difference Through Service.” Nick Segal, our mellow host, called us forward into the Light, and led us in chanting the sacred tones of Ani-Hu, a name for God coupled with the frequency of empathy. Our facilitators were Dr. David Bransky, DSS, and John Morton, DSS. David suggested that we look a what calls us to service, and ask ourselves, "How do we stay in contact with that which calls us to serve?" John Morton recounted a story about living across the street from a Volunteer Fire Department, and that service to the community in that situation was “proclaimed” by a siren which could be heard throughout the city, so that everyone who was a volunteer could be alerted to emergencies. That, he said, was experiential, not just theoretical, much like this workshop. The facilitators asked us to search our own experiences, and look at who our role models are for service? Who are our own reference points for the demonstration of service? Then David and John demonstrated an exercise, which we did in pairs, discussing who our role models and reference points are and how we demonstrate the qualities of service that they have demonstrated. Dear Patti Rayner, who has headed up Heartfelt Foundation for thirty years, received a standing ovation as she walked to the stage. She gave a brief and powerful talk, based upon her experiences of serving, and shared about ways in which we can serve, taking small steps to greater goals. This was followed by John Morton guiding us in a meditation, asking “What thing can you do to help?” Soon the room was flooding with Spirit; a hushed and sacred feeling was in the room. There were some deeply heart-felt sharings from participants. John Morton, in closing the workshop, reminded us to be aware and conscious that service opportunities are around, the call is already prepared. Maybe you’re the one who is invited to serve. Baruch Bashan. Read more articles from MSIA's Conference of the Heartfelt Service, 2009
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