The Pleasure of Serving
El Placer de Servir--por Gabriela Mistral
Toda la naturaleza es un anhelo de servicio:
sirve la nube, sirve el viento, sirve el surco.
Donde haya un árbol que plantar, plántalo tú,
donde haya un error que enmendar, enmiéndalo tú.
Sé el que apartó la piedra del campo,
el odio entre los corazones,
y las dificultades del problema.
Hay la alegría de ser sano y de ser justo,
pero hay, sobre todo, la hermosa,
la inmensa alegría de servir.
Qué triste sería el mundo si todo en él estuviera hecho,
si no hubiera un rosal que plantar,
una empresa que emprender.
Que no te llamen solamente los trabajos fáciles.
Es tan bello hacer lo que otros esquivan.
Pero no caigas en el error de que sólo
se hace mérito con los grandes trabajos.
Hay pequeños servicios que son buenos servicios:
adornar una mesa,
ordenar unos libros,
peinar una niña.
Aquél es el que critica, éste es el que destruye.
Tú, sé el que sirve.
El servir no es faena sólo de seres inferiores.
El Amor Universal, quien da el fruto y la luz, sirve.
Pudiera llamársele así: “El o La que sirve.”
Y tiene sus ojos en nuestras manos
y nos pregunta cada día:
¿Serviste hoy? ¿A quién? ¿Al árbol,
a tu amigo o a tu madre?
–Gabriela Mistral. De la colección de poemas Tala. Premio Nobel de Literatura (1945). Poema de la colección Tala, recitado en enero de 1953 durante el centenario del aniversario del natalicio de José Martí.
Gabriela Mistral received the 1945 Nobel Prize for Literature. This poem is from the collection Tala recited on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of José Martí’s birth, in January 1953.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: How do you relate to the notion that serving is not a labor just for inferior beings? Can you share a time where you felt the beauty of doing what others dodge? How do we develop ourselves to experience deep gladness in small acts of service?
Add Your Reflection
13 Past Reflections
On May 7, 2022 Lovie wrote :
things here. Any way keep up wrinting. betflik
Post Your Reply
On Aug 26, 2016 Alison wrote :
For me this poem is what life is all about. It's what we came here to learn. To give of ourself from the heart with no expectation of receiving something in return is a God like quality. And most importantly it makes for a most fulfilling life.
Post Your Reply
On Nov 23, 2015 Jack wrote :
Post Your Reply
On Oct 28, 2015 Vijay shah wrote :
The pleasure of serving is really give peace to mind and person get sound sleep at night. In next morning he gathers energy for doing best for serving.
Post Your Reply
On Sep 29, 2015 http://awriter.org/ wrote :
Bonjour et merci pour votre contribution,, puis-je vous soumettre une question : me permettez-vous de faire un lien par mail vers cet article ? Merci pour tout.
Post Your Reply
On Aug 6, 2015 me wrote :
This past evening, I had the privilege of serving two people who have frequently served me throughout my 54 years. (My sister Vicki and my mother in law, Mom Boom)
What goes around . . . Comes around!
My mother in law's most asked question, "what can I do for you?"
My sister Vicki, has "invisible wings"!
Yes . . . Joy comes in serving!
Post Your Reply
On Aug 6, 2015 Brinda wrote :
Compassion + presence makes our actions into service and endless opportunities to serve present themselves to us when our mindset is one that sees all our fellow beings/creatures/nature as our own family.
Thanks David for the reminder of the Tagore quote--have always loved it!! :-)
Post Your Reply
On Aug 4, 2015 John Atkinson wrote :
WEll, the other day I did a meditation with a few others in N. Scotland and the leader said our aim is to be in service for peace. At 68 this was the first time I had understood the meaning of the word , despite having sung in "Services" in Cathedrals for much of my life! Anyway maybe I did some good, despite thinking-oh here we go again- yet another daily service and I'm not really always in the mood!
Post Your Reply
On Aug 4, 2015 Sidney DeKoven wrote :
It is difficult for me to serve and at the same time I can see the enormous benefit of it if I can do it. The obvious benefit is to those we serve but there is an even greater benefit for our true selves. For service diminishes self- will and takes one out of one's false sense of "me" to put it in one way. Small services are my best chance right now. Helping someone across the street, even smiling at a baby can give one an idea of the benefits of service. Ghandi's life was a life totally dedicated to service. Although he is sometimes not depicted as such, he was probably one of the most joyful beings ever to have lived.
Post Your Reply
On Aug 2, 2015 david doane wrote :
Post Your Reply