We recently noodled the idea of how to serve others and in so doing serve our Creator. We looked at the inspiring lives of Jimmy Carter and Christopher Reeve and saw how their triumphs and hardships served others without intention by either of these men at the time. We so often think we know what we are to do, not just regarding service but just generally, only to find out that was not His plan for us at all.

Very personally, I had given up this chapter of “service” of writing Shabbat encouragements as I became overwhelmed by the technological barriers for my continuing to do so. For over a decade, somehow, without intent, they just happened to come to mind regularly and I was able to share them with you. They became a form of service, unintended at first and then intended as something I was to do. Unfortunately, last month after days of computer drama even with technical support from experts, I was no longer able to send these meditations to you via email. So I figured it was time to move on to another form of service.

Actually that has happened as well and is exciting! “Hineni, my Lord, I’m ready!” and I am looking forward to that next undertaking as well. Yet this morning at the Waffle House in St. Petersburg, FL, it feels as if I’m still being called to write another Shabbat encouragement too, so here we go. . .

Sid and I had just finished spending five days in St. Petersburg with our new grandson and family and thoroughly enjoyed helping in all the ways possible. I guess one could call this service if you can even call loving on a three week old and three year old service. Granted, our being there was very helpful to the babes’ mom and dad. Perhaps this is another example of unintended service even though it just felt like what we do when we love others. Now it was onto our winter home a little farther southeast in Florida.

As we were enjoying breakfast at the Waffle House before hitting the road I was struck by the amazing friendliness of the waitress. She was just a cheerful person, not just to us, but generally. I saw her serving a cup of coffee at the counter to a man in incessant conversation with himself who was clearly out of touch with reality and alone. ( I later saw him outside sitting by the garbage dumpster talking to himself). She was animated and interactive with him making him feel so special. I watched how she treated each new customer, even the people who came in for pickup orders. She genuinely seemed to love on them in a wonderful way that just made each of us who were in her world  feel so special. I was amazed at such ability to love.

So the dark thought had to enter – she left to take a short break and I wondered if she was like that all the time or just as part of her job. After all, that would not be a terrible way to be either. We study in Mussar how to be better people, how to “make the heart feel what the intellect understands.” (Rabbi Elya Lopian) For some there may be a natural feeling to act kindly, as a mensch. For others, perhaps most of us given certain situations, as we practice through exercises with intention, we can grow our heart, our kindness, compassion, patience muscles, and become more in His likeness.

As I pondered these thoughts about the exceptionally nice waitress she returned from her break just as we were leaving. She held the door open for us and we had a chance to chat. She was working the job at Waffle House to be able to give her grandbabies (coincidentally the same ages as ours there!) those little extras, most recently a trip to Disneyworld (coincidentally what we are doing for ours in April)! In our brief conversation she was as nice as she appeared, just a wonderful, loving soul whose comments to all were genuinely from her sweet heart as a person who loves those in her path and makes each person feel incredibly loved. I’m looking forward to getting to know her better as we return for our next visit with our St. Petersburg family.

This special angel may be in some people’s eyes just a waitress at a Waffle House. To me she was someone radiating God’s love in the most beautiful way one can, selflessly and non judgmentally despite her circumstances and the demeanor of those around her. She reminded me of His omnipresence, always there in the big and little places too. Her service was not just to provide food for our bodies, but also food for our hearts as she motivated me to mindfully be, and work to be, a magnanimous lover as our Abba through Yeshua loves us.

Shabbat shalom.

Diane