By John Daubney
Dottie’s journey is a testament to the inspirational power of our willingness to serve others through doing what we love to do. Just as Dottie was impassioned by those she saw joyfully giving service,others in the congregation will most likely be lit by the“sparks” Dottie throws off as she freely gives of herself at Unity. Passionate service is contagious!!
When I think about my journey with service at Unity, I am reminded of the words attributed to Mother Teresa in a Scott Kalechstein song:
“In this life we can’t do great things,
only small things with great love.”
I should back up and say that serving with great love is a radical shift from the way I provided service before coming to Unity. Both my husband (Paul) and I were very involved over the years in service to our previous church community. With a strongly developed sense of duty and responsibility, we were both heavily involved in Sunday liturgy, served on the parish council, taught youth religious education, etc. By the time we came to Unity in 2005, however, we felt spiritually dry and in need of a respite from responsibility. I was also working full time as a home care Occupational Therapist at this time, and was well on my way to caregiver burnout. We were tired and thirsty travelers looking for fresh water to revive ourselves!
So, for our first 1- 2 years here, we just drank from Unity’s well without giving back. I came to church to enjoy the inspiring music, be among welcoming people, drink in the inspiration from Rev. Jim’s sermons, and partake in the coffee and hospitality after church. After being “takers” for more than a year, we began to notice that we could stop being defensive about having to join the church or take on a job. There was no one pressuring us, only people nurturing and reviving us.
About that time, a miracle happened. I had known musician Phyllis Pulver from Friends in Harmony [Phyllis’ monthly community singing gathering], but I would never consider singing in front of a group. That is until Phyllis extended an invitation to anyone in the congregation who loved to sing, to sing with Unity’s Fourth Sunday Singers. Since one of my passions is singing from my heart, I sheepishly volunteered. Soon, I was arranging my calendar to always be in town on 3rd and 4th Sundays, so that I could practice and sing on 4th Sundays. This, my first service at Unity, was a heart opening, joyful experience for which I will always be grateful.
Following this same inspiration, to volunteer with what I so enjoy, I offered to help out in the meditation garden. Paul and I still thank Donna Britton and Norma Seaward for inspiring us to join them in doing what we love to do. We enjoy the fun and fellowship when gardening as much as we enjoy the beauty and sacredness of nature when we work alone.
From these small beginning activities, it was then easy to volunteer to help out with Hospitality after Sunday service and then also to be on the Unity Church Cares Committee (UCCC) (Have you every known two more joyful people than Heather Diddel and Diane Teutschman, the women who head up these services?) Both the Hospitality and the UCC committees are about doing small things with great love. I enjoy meeting new people, so I found it easy and fun to make coffee and set up snacks to facilitate this experience for others. UCCC is another opportunity to offer our love and compassion by simply sending a card or flowers to someone who maybe experiencing difficult times.
However, when I was asked the 3rd time to run for the Board of Trustees, I was besieged with fears. Although clear that I wanted to give back to Unity for all the goodness I was receiving, I now perceived this service offer as being a BIG service commitment. But, I also recalled the number of times that Heather Diddel had told me that it was a joy to serve on the Board; that she had grown spiritually by working with our Board members who aimed to apply Unity principles in their daily life. Could I trust this might come to be true for me as well?
Well, my skepticism receded in a flash while in prayer, when it came to me to just trust that Spirit would use me in a way I could not yet imagine and in a way that would serve me and our church. Since being on the Board, I have experienced, in sometimes dramatic ways, the release of limiting beliefs that has brought forth my unused/unknown talents in service to others.
You’ll see the power of Spirit, if, when it comes my time to give the Treasurer’s report to the congregation, I can embody the enthusiasm and love of my predecessor, Dennis Ryan … as I confidently sport a green accountant’s visor.