“May I become at all times, both now and forever, a protector for those without protection, a ship for those with an ocean to cross, a bridge for those with a river to ford, a sanctuary for those in danger, a lamp for those without light, a place of refuge for those who lack shelter, and a servant to all in need for as long as faith endures, and for as long as living beings remain. Until then, may I too abide to dispel the misery of the world.”

– Shantideva

In deciding on who to invite into gratitude conversations, I did not set out to find people who lead lives based on service. I did not set service as a criteria any more than I set being a yogi, teacher, artist, or researcher. It just happened. Many of the people with whom I spoke, particularly the people in this Volume, lead service-oriented lives. Bigger than their chosen professions, which are meaningful to say the least, their lives are about serving our world. They are servant leaders. They live the principle of loving kindness. They understand our interconnectedness. They show up.

Servant Leadership

I understand the connection between gratitude and service as being something that happens “from the ground up.” By “from the ground up,” I mean humility and thankfulness for the opportunity to serve and lead. Leadership, in that context, comes from a “ground”ed place; and “up” speaks more about aspiration and inspiration, than about hierarchy and privilege. The idea from Luke that to whom much is given much is required comes to mind when considering servant leadership. The servant leaders in these gratitude conversations recognize the blessings in their lives and are grateful for their opportunities. Whether as a United States diplomat, United States Air Force Colonel, or community leader, servant leadership comes from a place of gratitude.

Loving Kindness

It’s a simple idea that spans time and religions. Think about the Golden Rule – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Loving kindness is the active practice of service. Service is the active practice of gratitude. Service is love manifest. In that way, gratitude is love manifest. Thinking about gratitude as love manifest makes gratitude a concept I can grasp more fully. I know what it feels like to love and be loved. Gratitude as love makes gratitude stronger – more impactful. Connecting gratitude and service makes gratitude tangible and doable. That makes sense to me.

Ubuntu 

South African President Nelson Mandela explains:

“In Africa there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.”

Ubuntu further connects service and gratitude. It is the idea that we are one another – in lifting one another up we are lifted up, in helping one another we help ourselves, in loving one another we love our selves. We are interconnected. We stand on the same ground and breathe the same air. Service and gratitude are the inhale and exhale.