{"id":15185,"date":"2020-09-28T16:55:22","date_gmt":"2020-09-28T20:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mentordiscoverinspire.org\/2020\/09\/28\/personal-victory-through-service-to-others\/"},"modified":"2021-04-25T17:07:55","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T21:07:55","slug":"personal-victory-through-service-to-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mentordiscoverinspire.org\/personal-victory-through-service-to-others\/","title":{"rendered":"Personal Victory Through Service to Others"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
John Dunham<\/strong>\nMDI Contributor<\/strong><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
A big victory? That is easy. When participating in Community Service (CS), one wins on so many levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are little triumphs in every such project that lead to the greater victory for those we serve and the ultimate victory for ourselves in the triumph over laziness and selfishness that will make us better men. Along the way, we\u2019ll learn so many things that build character and enrich one’s spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A life of contribution with community service is so rich. And it’s never too late to start. My story is an example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of June, I attended an inspection of my Tribe Atlas (MDI\u2019s first virtual tribe), which had applied for Division status. After grilling our leadership and their efforts to impress and justify our claim, Western Front asked all members present to share the dark stuff – the things we might not be so proud of – or what was missing. I stated that I missed the community service aspect of face-to-face teams and attempted to explain what I see as the benefits and value of participating. So as a member of MDI since its inception, it came as no surprise to be asked to lead our tribe’s newly minted Community Service Initiative a few days later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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So perhaps I should define what I see as “community service.” I know some may think my definition too broad but I\u2019m prepared to defend it. Community service, in my view, can be as simple as a few teammates getting together to help another man clean out his garage, or one man giving a passionate speech, asking for help with a worthy cause, or as big as converting a derelict inner-city bank into a second language school for a deprived community that required a year\u2019s planning, months of weekend’s labour from combined divisions and unwavering support from our sister women\u2019s organization and the local community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apart from the obvious benefit for the recipients, there are enormous, and I would argue greater, benefits to be had by the participants. I am a believer in the concept of “ownership” and the reality that the task will mold the man to its needs according to his level of commitment. So if the task requires woodworking, a man may acquire the skills of a carpenter. If it requires coordination and organization, he may acquire skills of a manager. If it needs money he may learn the skills of a fundraiser. If it requires leadership he may learn how to inspire, trust and delegate. And so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community service is not simply free labour as some have mis-characterized it. Nor is it something which automatically bestows moral superiority on its participants, although it may bring some greater perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community service is an opportunity to win!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
it’s an opportunity to learn from one\u2019s peers, to acquire new skills, to improve relationships and develop new ones, to learn, to teach others and to practice leadership. These are but a few of the benefits of putting into action the teachings of MDI, but there are many others. Friendships, enrollment, the opportunity to work directly with women are frequently other indirect benefits. Indeed, I know several men who met their wives through co-ed Community Service Events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Community service is an opportunity to become and meet heroes, not the phoney self-centered idols of sport or entertainment that the media too frequently mislabel “hero” despite their boorish behaviour. It’s reather the real-life men and women who make sacrifices to help their communities. Rescue a family by fixing their roof, help them move, raise money for and build playgrounds for disabled children, landscape gardens for women in shelters and provide Christmas gifts for their children. There are so many more opportunities to be a hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is no accident that community service is recognized as the perfect training ground for leaders by many successful organizations, and indeed it is the foundational raison d\u2019etre for extraordinary charities like the Shriners & Lions Club International founded more than a century ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the 22 years since I did my first Men’s Weekend, I have been privileged to serve on numerous projects, large and small, and I\u2019ve learned something new and strengthened my relationship with others on every one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the benefits, I have acquired:<\/p>\n\n\n\n