Finding Meaning Through Service

This past week I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Bahá'í House of Worship for South America in Santiago de Chile. I took a week off from work and was invited to volunteer. The House of Worship, or Temple, is a space open to people of all origins, races, beliefs and cultures, to reflect, meditate and pray.

During my week volunteering there I had the opportunity to greet and welcome visitors near the entrance, provide information about the temple to groups, as well as helping ensure that the temple and its surroundings were peaceful and enjoyable for visitors. The service I was asked to do was far removed from my day-to-day work, and seemed so simple at its core, yet it was extremely fulfilling. I loved seeing so many people visiting and looking for a space to connect with their souls. It was also hard work, it was mentally tiring, and my feet hurt at the end of the day.

This opportunity helped me reflect about human nature, the search for meaning and the importance of service to others. My own heart was filled this week, just by being able to give some of my time and energy to other people, and it made me wonder about what opportunities there might be within the workplace to provide a space for our team to dedicate some of their time, energy and effort to serving their families and their communities.