I recently met a young woman, a college freshman, who has it all together. She has a positive self image, knows who she is and has a clear picture of what she wants to do with her life. She is probably the exception to the rule. 

Adolescence, and increasingly late adolescence, can be a time of struggling for that sense of self identification and purpose in life. For some, college is an opportunity to enjoy life and postpone any introspection and decision-making till graduation. For others that sense of direction and passion for a purpose may never happen. So it’s been a joy to see someone so young, so driven by a passion for service.

Perhaps that’s the secret, “service.” This young woman is other-centered, not self-centered. In a competitive and capitalistic culture that emphasizes the importance of the individual and the idea of self-actualization, relationships and an inner mandate for serving others becomes secondary if not completely absent. And that’s the tragedy of our present situation in this country.

Those who choose a vocation of serving others are those generally on the bottom of the economic ladder. I’m not just thinking of maids and waitresses, construction workers and short order cooks, but teachers and nurses and policemen. Why is it they usually have to struggle while hedge fund managers spend millions to traffic internationally in teenage sex; then serve less jail time than kids smoking pot? Why aren’t our public officials (including presidents) willing or required, to show us how much they contributed to the larger society through their tax records?

How is it that our first responders, always praised after they have given their life for others, have to struggle for years for just compensation for their sacrifices, while those who make their living thinking only of themselves have all the access to health care they desire?

There are those who are working hard to scare the populace about “socialism.” They are working hard to make it as frightening as “terrorism.” There is a lot of money available to make us self-centered rather than socially conscious and willing to invest in our common future. 

Large corporations have a huge stake in our self-centeredness and ultimately in our selfishness. They would rather we are sitting isolated at home watching their advertisements on TV rather than attending a city council meeting or visiting in a nursing home. Fossil fuel companies want to be certain they continue to receive more in taxpayer subsidies than is received in all of education. After all, money for tuition-free college might have to come from oil company coffers.

In fact, we engage in a socialistic endeavor every time we visit the public library or drive on Interstate 29 or use our Medicare card. There are some things we accept government doing because it would be difficult for all of us to do individually.

My house is full of books right now. Heaven help us if I had all the books in the library and heaven help the forests if we each wanted that kind of library in our own home. Or don’t ask me to maintain a fire department on my own, just in case we should need it. Nor do I want to purchase enough land to make myself a Grand Canyon or Yellowstone Park. I’m willing to share costs for those public services.

Service is the secret. It’s the secret to a fulfilling life for an individual and it’s the secret to a healthy and sustainable society. 

It’s the way America has been great and can be great now and in the future. We need to serve others; the refugees, the elderly and infirm, the struggling and the forgotten, the neighbor.

Giving is the essence of all the world’s great religious traditions. Service is built into them, not an addendum after the last period. Self giving and self sacrifice are primary, not simply the task for the saint and Christ figure.

We know this! We honor those who serve. But there are always those who turn the teaching around and make us think it’s all about “me.” Some preach the prosperity gospel, that blesses selfishness in the presence of squalor. Others preach individual salvation, instead of the coming of the Kingdom, which is all about social salvation. 

When we look at the challenges of climate catastrophe, nuclear re-armament and a world wide refugee crisis, I’m not going to get anyplace without you and you’d better include me in your tribe or you won’t move far into the future either. We’re going to do it together or not at all.

Think about it. What have been the most fulfilling experiences in your life; serving self or serving others? Service is the secret!