Audio Available Via my Podcast Upon Awakening. Click Link https://anchor.fm/matthew-whiteside/episodes/Tao-Te-Ching-Day-4-Service-euri8r
"The highest goodness resembles water, Water greatly benefits myriad things without contention. It stays in places that people dislike. Therefore, it is similar to the Tao."-Tao Te Ching Ch.8
I am lost today in question of what must I do. My day is a simple one. Wake up, read the Tao Te Ching. Write about what I uncover about myself in the process, and move on.
Truly I am amazed by the lengths my mind will go to create complexities that do not exist in an effort to allow my ego to overcome. I run into this alot, no problems breed manufactured problems designed to make me think I’m getting somewhere while in fact I am right where I started.
What does this have to do with service? Well, my main objective in life is to be of service to others. To serve them as the Tao does, with equanimity, not with holding or giving with intent.
Today I took my mother’s car in to get scheduled maintenance and service. Whilst doing so, I was sitting in the service department, reading the Tao Te Ching, and thinking to myself how confused and utterly lost in what I would write about today would be. Nothing, I thought, was sticking out or coming to me.
I was wanting so badly to be of service I was missing precisely where I was being of service and the message that was right infront of me.
I am beginning to realize there is no secret hidden in the Tao Te Ching. It is as plain as what is right in front of us.
The Tao serves all things like water it does not wait to be applauded after quenching thirst. It does not show some one something that isn’t there in its reflection. It is simple and serves all the same.
When I am looking and striving so hard to be of service and I mean I’m walking down the street this morning asking, “how can I serve, how can I serve?” I am reminded of where I am already being of service in this moment.
Literally sitting in a service station getting my mom’s car serviced. It doesn’t need to be any more clear.
My only issue was in thinking I needed to search out where I could be of service as if people and things didn’t already exist around me.
The river does not climb inland to water the dessert. That which needs the water (service) finds the water.
I can live in contentment and peace as the Tao Te Ching says we can or I can chase after that which already surrounds me.
It’s when we work 3 jobs so that we may have more time to spend with out kids in the future. Because we don’t have the money to spend time with our kids now. We don’t have what we need now to be who we want to be for the people we want to be it for.
But, if we realize now and here is all we will ever have and more begets more, what will we pour more into? That which we have already or that which we don’t yet have and may never exist.
If I don’t take care of what is already mine, if I am not serving what is already here to be served, no more will be added, only subtracted.
"Dwelling at the right place Heart with great depth2 Giving with great kindness3 Words with great integrity4 Governing with great administration5 Handling with great capability6 Moving with great timing7 Because it does not contend It is therefore beyond reproach"-Tao Te Ching Ch.8
Seeking Purpose Today 