” the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Service to others. What exactly does that statement mean anyway? Last week I went for a walk on a local nature trail. On my way back to the parking lot I came across a young gentleman hobbling barefoot on the trail. He was obviously in pain as he places each foot slowly on the ground grimacing in pain as if stepping on burning coals. The trail is made of hard rock and pebbles and would be difficult to maneuver barefoot.
I asked him if he was trying to toughen up his feet, to which he replied “yes, but I think I went a little to far”. We chatted for a while and I said “I wish there was a way I could help, but I don’t have anything to offer”. He jokingly said “I guess you don’t want to carry me?” to which we both got a chuckle. We talked a little more before I left him to struggle alone. I wasn’t worried about his ability to make it back. He was a young man probably in his early twenties in good physical condition.
When I got back to the parking lot I looked around for stray shoes thinking he may have laid them on the sidewalk or near his car and I could take them to him, but there were no shoes to be seen so I got in my car and drove away. As I was driving out of the parking lot I thought to myself, “why didn’t I offer him my shoes or my walking stick I had with me”. It occurred to me I didn’t even think of this at the time. What I did think was, “well I don’ have an extra pair of shoes to offer him so there’s nothing I can do.”
The question, “why didn’t I do more to help this person” has stayed on my mind since the encounter. I didn’t even walk back with him to see that he made it okay. I just kinda walked off leaving him alone. I wasn’t in a hurry and could have easily walked with him, or offered him my walking stick, shoes or even just a body to lean on to ease his pain. But I did none of these things, I didn’t even think to offer these things, I just left him alone.
Am I so selfish that I don’t truly want to help others? Or am I just not conditioned to be able to see what help I have to offer. I would like to think it’s the later, but I know there’s some selfishness mixed in as well. There must be some way to condition myself to be more aware of ways I can help others. I’ve always thought of myself as a helpful person, or at least someone who want’s to be helpful to others, although I admit I don’t do a lot to be of service to others.