Rick DeAngelis
A Bob Dylan song has been going round and round in my head recently. No, it’s not “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are A-Changin,” or another of his masterpieces from the early 1960s, which were depicted in the recent film “The Great Unknown.” The song in my head was released in 1979 and met with mixed reviews. I didn’t like it at the time, but now it has me.
The song is “Gotta Serve Somebody.” I’m not exactly sure what Dylan was getting at in this song; I don’t think that matters. With art and all things, I rely on my own viewpoint to draw meaning and inspiration. I bet you do the same.
“Gotta Serve Somebody” reminds me of the central importance for each of us of serving others, whether it be through direct service, public service, donations, or prayer. Perhaps it is the specter of suffering to come that brought the song back to me.
Recent research indicates that we are hardwired for empathy to others, to sense their distress and pain and then to act on it. From an evolutionary perspective, the original impetus for empathy was likely very narrow — to help and protect our family or clan to ensure survival. Of course, now we know the interrelationship of each and every one of us on this small planet. A wider perspective continues to evolve.
The moral and spiritual teachings of the ages also instruct us to serve others. The origins of the Golden Rule — treat others as you want to be treated — goes back at least 4,000 years and is found in some form in all faith traditions. Many of our faith traditions have a long established track record of serving others, especially the poor, the sick, and the lonely.
Serving others is not just a religious or spiritual motivation. The Mutual Aid movement is a contemporary expression of this age-old imperative and is defined as “the radical act of caring for others while working to change the world.”
To learn more about mutual aid, I encourage you to read David Spade’s powerful little book “Mutual Aid” or google Montpelier Mutual Aid.
Recently, I retired from the leadership of the Good Samaritan Haven. This was a change I wanted, but to my surprise the minute I got there I was dissatisfied. Fortunately, I discovered that service to others was what I needed and is very possible without being employed in the profession. Currently, I am volunteering with two amazing local initiatives. Both are entirely organized and run by volunteers.
The Interfaith Lunch Program provides a meal Monday through Friday to the community and especially the unsheltered at Christ Episcopal Church (Fridays at Saint Augustine’s). About 100 people are served each day. This project has been operating for many years. As a relatively new volunteer, I feel so humbled by the effort and love that I see day after day to make available an attractive and nutritious meal.
The other project is an emergency overnight shelter hosted by the Unitarian Church of Montpelier (the UCM Shelter). The shelter only operates in extremely cold weather. This year we expect to be open about 40 nights and average about 13 guests per night. From what I have observed we have saved lives, protected individuals from frostbite, and much more to protect life. Volunteering at the shelter is a big commitment, yet we have a group of over 50 volunteers, each working four hour shifts. I know that many of the volunteers including myself love serving others in this way. Here’s what Emmanuelle Soumeilhan, one of our wonderful volunteers, had to say about it:
“I love this work. There is so much to discover about human potential and possibilities. People are so diverse yet we have so much in common when it comes to survival. Our emotions come through in so many ways, yet we all experience them in one way or another. This is how I feel I can relate, connect, and empathize.”
Emmanuelle beautifully expresses the power of serving others. It’s not only about what it does for others, it’s about what it does for ourselves. Speaking for myself, my involvement in the groups mentioned above has brought me a sense of fulfillment and happiness. This and the sense of camaraderie with other volunteers more than offsets the output of energy and disruption to my sleep.
Depending on our background and interests, each person will have an effort that resonates with them. Luckily, we live in a community where others have paved the way and created numerous opportunities to help. Community Harvest of Central Vermont was supported by 363 volunteers in 2024; Just Basics, which operates the Montpelier Food Pantry, is assisted by 20 volunteers each month; the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic uses many volunteers to serve the uninsured and underinsured; Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice uses many volunteers for hospice and other programs. Obviously, there are many more. Just google “Montpelier Volunteer” will give you a good start to find your passion. If you’d like to find out more about the Interfaith Lunch Program or the UCM Shelter please email me at the 1912strike@gmail.com.
Like the singer says: “Gotta Serve Somebody.” Serve others. Serve yourself.
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