Deliberate acts of kindness : service as a spiritual practice / Meredith Gould.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gould, Meredith, 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kindness--Religious aspects.

Kindness.

Voluntarism--Religious aspects.

Voluntarism.

Religious life.

Physical Description:

xv, 172 pages ; 21 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Image Books/Doubleday, 2002.

Summary:

Deliberate Acts of Kindness is for people who are ready to supplement "random acts of kindness" with intentional acts of generosity, decency, and integrity. More than simply a handbook for volunteers, it explores the significance of service as an expression of spirituality and the commitment to something greater than oneself. Meredith Gould guides readers through their journeys, from recognizing when they are ready to answer the call to service to finding the right place to donate their time and talents. She offers invaluable advice on discovering the types of work that best suit their personalities and the areas in which they can make the greatest contributions. There is helpful information on how to get involved, as well as sensible suggestions about what to do when things go wrong in a service situation. An easy-to-read mix of tips, quotations, reflections, and short narrative passages, Deliberate Acts of Kindness presents a comprehensive, honest look at what service is like on a day-to-day basis. Its insights will help new volunteers and veterans alike negotiate the practical difficulties that sometimes arise and achieve the spiritual maturity that comes from answering the call to service.

Contents:

1. Service and Spiritual Practice: Why service has spiritual significance and its forms in different traditions 1

2. Discerning the Call: How to hear the call and how to take the first steps toward answering it 15

3. Finding Your Place: Deciding where to serve 45

4. Becoming Involved: How to enter the volunteer environment 89

5. The Shadow Side of Service: How to recognize and deal with the dark stuff 118

Afterword: Service Is Its Own Reward: Final reflections 161

Appendix A Volunteer Options 167.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [171]-172).

ISBN:

0385502435

OCLC:

47521306