Service is leadership in action.

Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Consider this…

Consider honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day with an act of service.

3 Things to consider as you look for service opportunities.

1. Open in prayer, if the context allows.

Don't be afraid to pray, meditate and think on things that are right, good and lovely in community. Encourage people of all faiths to lift up prayers to their creator, proclaim their own faith and not disclaim others. For those who claim no faith tradition, encourage them to speak and reflect on the values and concepts that peace and justice can provide.

2. Service is important, but it is not what is most important.

Let the service activity that you are participating in focus on fellowship, building relationships between the served and those providing service. Use the opportunity to pierce the veil of stereotypes, bias and make authentic human connections.

Working  side by side with  different racial groups, ages, different neighborhoods, faith communities and economic backgrounds creates connections the break the insignificance divisions between people.

It will be a way to build the "beloved community" that Dr. King spoke of.

3. Learn more about the issues your service is directed toward.

Context is everything. If you do not understand the context it is difficult to understand why what you are doing is important. Serving at a community soup kitchen,cleaning neighborhood debris or meeting the educational needs of the formerly incarcerated without understanding the, often systemic and political, forces that have created these situations for people is a missed opportunity.

As people willing to serve we must ask, what is behind the courageous response of the organization you are working with to address these needs, challenges and injustices?

Knowing what the issues are that have created the need for your volunteering will often help build advocates for policy changes, political  engagement and pragmatic programs that not just place a band iad on the problem but spark real and lasting change.