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March 26, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

How Does A Heart of Service Respond to These Times?

“Coronavirus has uprooted the fabric of our lives. How does a heart of service respond to an unknown cause and how do we build resilience when we can’t be physically together? Uncertain times raise significant questions that can architect a new story for our future. Carbon emissions have dropped dramatically, but xenophobia is rising. Nursing homes are being evacuated, only to bring elders home to their families. Shopping malls are empty but family meals are on the rise. Awakening of kindness is pervasive, but the inequality of human suffering is evident. Borders are still present, but the boundaries of our shared humanity are getting blurry. Yes, undercurrents of fear are everywhere, but so are prayers. Jack Kornfield recently shared, “The virus isn’t happening to us; it’s happening for us.” Last week 90 individuals from across the ServiceSpace ecosystem circled online to explore the call of these times. { read more }

Be The Change

At the end of this month, ServiceSpace is hosting a follow up conversation for kindred spirits: “What Would Love Do?” Learn more here. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,683 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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Coronavirus has uprooted the fabric of our lives. How does a heart of service respond to an unknown cause, how do we build resilience when we can’t be physically together, and how do we amplify lotus in the mud? With the backdrop of 20 years of holding such inquiries, ServiceSpace volunteers globally have sprung to action.

As one response, we’ve just launched: karunavirus.org Karuna is a Sanskrit word for compassion, and the website intends to amplify the voice of our collective compassion — by featuring news articles of everyday people choosing love over fear. Read below for a recent roundup of stories that simply renew our faith in life.

Uncertain times raise significant questions that can architect the arc of our future. Carbon emissions have dropped dramatically, but xenophobia is rising. Government surveillance is increasing, while global cooperation is going up. Shopping malls are empty, but family meals are on the rise. Awakening of compassion is pervasive, but the inequality of human suffering is evident. In a context of “social distancing”, neighbors lean out of their windows to sing songs together. Borders are still present, but the boundaries of our shared humanity are getting blurry. Yes, undercurrents of fear are everywhere, but so are prayers. Jack Kornfield recently shared, “The virus isn’t happening to us; it’s happening for us.” May we step into our highest aspirations to serve this inflection point in history.

To that end, ServiceSpace offers many virtual ways to engage, and we’ve initiated many creative experiments to serve the needs of the hour. Here’s some of them:

• Be inspired: DailyGood, KarmaTube, Awakin Calls and more continue with gusto. Subscribe.
• Engage: join one of numerous circles, from virtual Awakins to 21-day challenges to even dance. View Virtual Circles.
• Brainstorm: as a follow-up to our “physical distance, social solidarity” dialogue, we’re hosting a global one on March 31st: what would love do? RSVP here.

In a recent interview, Terry Tempest Williams offered a courageous reflection:

“A good friend of mine said, ‘You are married to sorrow.’ And I looked to him and I said, ‘I am not married to sorrow. I just choose not to look away.’ I think there is deep beauty in not averting our gaze, no matter how hard it is, no matter how heartbreaking it can be. It is about presence, bearing witness. I used to think bearing witness was a passive act, but I don’t believe that anymore. When we are present, when we do not divert our gaze, something is revealed. The very marrow of life. We change. A transformation occurs. A consciousness shift.”

Perhaps we’re in the middle of living into that new story. Imagine Italian airforce using Pavoratti, Spanish military doing acts of service, and street police playing guitars — to *inspire*. Corporations giving unexpected wage hikes. Canadians starting “Kindness Mongering.” Six year old in Australia adorably gifting her tooth fairy money, an 8th grader in Japan making 612 masks, and college kids everywhere buying groceries for elders. Cuba sending an army in "white robes" (doctors) to help Italy. A landlord allowing tenants to stay without rent, an Irish priest’s poem going viral, disabled activitists producing hand sanitizer. Imagine. Sometimes a crisis mirrors our deepest impulse — that we can always respond with compassion.

Lastly, a headline that made me smile: An aquarium closes, but penguins can now roam free. As one door closes, another surely opens up.

In service,

March 25, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Humanity’s Wake Up Call

“The rapid spread of novel coronavirus has prompted government, business, and civil society to take dramatic action–canceling events large and small, restricting travel, and shutting down major segments of the economy on which nearly all of us depend. It is a demonstration of our ability, when the imperative is clear, for deep and rapid global cooperation and change at a previously unimaginable speed and scale.There is an obvious desire to protect ourselves and our loved ones. But we are also seeing something more as communities mobilize to address the crisis–a sense of mutual responsibility, born of a recognition that we are ultimately bound to a common fate.” David Korten shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

What shifts are you feeling called to make in this time? Take a moment to write down what you have been waking up to in this period.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,872 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

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March 24, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Canada’s Caremongering Trend

“Just a few days ago the word “caremongering” did not exist. Now, what started as a way to help vulnerable people in Toronto has turned into a movement spreading fast across Canada. More than 35 Facebook groups have been set up in 72 hours to serve communities in places including Ottawa, Halifax and Annapolis County in Nova Scotia, with more than 30,000 members between them. People are joining the groups to offer help to others within their communities, particularly those who are more at risk of health complications related to coronavirus.” This BBC article shares more. { read more }

Be The Change

For more ideas on how you can be of service during this time, check out this article. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,857 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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March 23, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Teaching & Learning from the Heart in Troubled Times

“The current moment calls for moral ferocity. We should not sleep well at night when we know others are suffering. We need to raise our voices with clarity and channel our anger into protest and resistance. Ferocity itself, though, holds danger. Let’s not forget that some of the worst perpetrators of evil have often claimed to act in the name of the good, or God, or the national interest, or a future utopia. By claiming the moral high ground, and labeling our opponents misguided, we run the risk of doing great harm in the name of good. I suggest that we balance our moral ferocity with humility and tenderness.” Rabbi Ariel Burger, an author, artist and long-time student and friend of Elie Wiesel shares more in this timely essay. { read more }

Be The Change

Learn more about Rabbi Burger’s inspiring and relevant-for-our-times book, ‘Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel’s Classroom’. { more }

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,814 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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March 22, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Love in the Time of Coronavirus

“Pandemics are powerful phenomena. One moment, life proceeds per usual routines, and the next, we find ourselves scrambling over toilet paper. The coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected our lives in every way, and preventing transmission, while far from assured, appears to be straightforward. An equally daunting challenge, however, is about how we are going to interact with one another as this crisis unfolds.I remember a similar dynamic in another pandemic I lived through. The first cases of HIV/AIDS were reported when I was 19 years old.” Kevin Fong shares more in this deeply personal and timely piece that asks and responds to a crucial question: “When fear and othering are the norms, how might we act with love in the time of corona? { read more }

Be The Change

Pay special attention to what you are reading and sharing with others in this time. We each have the capacity to amplify what is useful, good, true and beautiful in our world. Let’s use this ability wisely, particularly in these times.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,782 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

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March 21, 2020

a project of ServiceSpace

Guide to Well-Being During Coronavirus

Greater Good’s mission is to share scientific research that can help promote a happier, more compassionate society. With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, they have committed to bringing forward stories, tips, and tools for these uncertain times. The following page will continue to be updated with resources for individuals, families, and educators. { read more }

Be The Change

Share the resources in the post above with your community.

DailyGood is a volunteer-run initiative that delivers “good news” to 247,740 subscribers. There are many ways to help. To unsubscribe, click here.

Other ServiceSpace projects include:

KindSpring // KarmaTube // Conversations // Awakin // More