Service Work!!!

[godsonmyside]

There is a misconseption I believe members have about service in NA. Selfless service is (Having, exhibiting, or motivated by no concern for oneself; unselfish) giving of oneself and giving freely. I sat on an H&I Commitee (I am vice-chair) and a member said to me "Where were yoiu 10 years ago", "I was here, I have 23 years"!! Meaning I've don service work and I have put my time in. So I said to him, "I didn't think 10 years ago counted right here and right now".

Here is the point:
This gentleman took a H&I panel position and it was a once a month commitment, he decided to go everyweek and this is alot of work. At the time of this we asked him monthly,"Are you sure you want to go every week?"......"Oh, yeah" So, 8 months later "Its hard to find speakers every week", "I'm too old for this", "Ive done enough service for NA"

I told him as if it effects carrying the message, give it up, this would be the reponsable thing to do. Service work doesnt have to be done, it is always a pleasure to do, and be of service. I do not serve you, or the body of members, I serve God, this is a God given Program.

I do not serve to serve my Ego, Spending money on gas and serving on Sub-committees and making my homegroups business meetings and serving at the homegroup level and sponsoring men, Giving back what was so freely given to me.

I believe when I serve for Pride adn Ego, the service I do is not to carry the message but instead I carry the mess. This is an Program of attraction. I do not go to meetings and waste group time with announcements of DIRE NEED. "We are in dire need of a coffee maker", well don't make coffee and see who makes it, someone will make it. I believe begging for Trusted Servants in this Fellowship, we are missing the point of selfless service.

Going to our members and having one on one conversations and letting folks know that can be of service and how effective they could be through encouragement is a better approach. As I stated, if we God and not ( the famous members) service will always be effective.

These are just some things I see today, and I'll put some more thoughts down later.

Peace,
Todd J.

[Gooch]

believe begging for Trusted Servants in this Fellowship, we are missing the point of selfless service.

yep .. never did see the attractiveness of guilt tripping someone into a service position. I only know for myself that if guilt is my motivator, then my heart isn't in a giving spirit.

And I still get that from members with decades...

Must be they signed on under the guilt ticket and have some level of resentment against anyone who isn't ( in their eyes ) doing proper service?

There was a time I allowed it to bother me, but I hope I'm healthier than that now.

[cj.]

On some days, service work drama is the only form of entertainment I get!

Seriously though ......... being of service to help carry the message of NA has often been the grounding I needed to help keep my ego from zooming off into the stars. Watching the sheer delight on someone's face when they benefit from someone else giving their time and effort and care to champion their well being, is priceless. And............ it's not about me!!!

Those who serve in NA choose to do so for many different reasons, and there will always be some who do it from being guilted or shamed into it, and, although they may not always be successful with their initial attempts, I often see some of those same people persevere and experience a profound change in attitude and heart.

I look at members coming into service work with pretty much the same attitude that I look at a person walking into a meeting for the very first time. Hopeful that they will desire what NA has to offer, and also hopeful that we will be able to present a resonable facsimile of what that is!

NA recovery and NA service both work on the same spiritual principles.

Peace
cj