Sledding

Some of life's best lessons come from the simplest of activities.

This dawned on me as I watched my children hit the sledding hill for the twentieth time of the day. It was the excitement in their eyes, the ear to ear smiles, and the laughter that ensued as they came to a stop. The pure joy that came from such an innocent activity.

Admittedly I began the day by coaching my kids to go down a certain way and stay away from certain jumps. I realized after the first five runs this was their time to sled, not mine. Half their fun I think was getting stuck, trying something new, or seeing how far down the hill they could make it before they came to a stop. There was strategy involved as I often would see my kids watching other kids and eyeballing the next path to blaze or sledding position to emulate. They tried feet first, hands on either side of the sled to steer. There was tandem with one sled, with multiple riders or hanging on to multiple sleds each with one rider. Then was my personal favorite, face first, hands tucked, and as fast as the sled would take you. (There were even times the sleds became optional, served a purposed, but not advised.) All of which brought smiles and laughter to each of their faces. Pure joy.

As our time on the hill passed one thing really began to set hold, everyone needs to take a "sledding day". Heck maybe its an hour of a day, nonetheless, everyone needs to go "sledding". You see we take life too seriously, too scheduled, too careful, too advised. Sometimes we need to take the time to let our hands and feet up, jump on to our sleds, and see what happens. Better yet, take the fastest track, face first, hands tucked and go as far as the sled will take you!

Service

Today is a day for just that.

Your service may be different than others, it may have deep rooted meaning or it may just be a simple gift. Your service could be thoughts spoken or words read. Perhaps your service is organized and with a group of like minded, or maybe its individual, focused on a specific cause. Regardless, your service is needed.

Serving is about contributing. It's about helping others, doing for others, thinking of others. Your service is honoring those who you serve. Your service creates, challenges, even instigates action of others. Your service provides different thinking, different doing, and different results. Your service is needed.     

My service is not always shared with others by physical nature, nor is my service always organized or specific. My service is often deep rooted in thoughts and ideas, challenging the norm and being different. My service is passionate, involved, and inspired. My service is personal. 

It's possible that today may not mean the same to you as it does to me. In fact my service started because of today, nearly 25 years ago. A person, a movement, a legacy... so profound, so enduring.
  
Today is a day for service.

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?" - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.