Being of Service: An Inner Ministry

Being of Service: An Inner Ministry
by Mate Kelber

Mate received the Volunteer of the Year Award at MSIA’s 2016 Conference

I have always felt that being an ordained minister is an honor, a privilege and a blessing, and I hold that very sacred in my heart. Alex Padilla encouraged me to write J-R a note asking to be ordained. J-R was visiting Colombia at the time and I was only on Discourse #3. I had no idea what being a minister was about or what “being of service” meant. Even so, I gave Alex a handwritten note that basically said: “J-R, I want to be a minister…” I don’t even recall what I wrote as the reason why. I do remember being very nervous waiting for an answer and getting very excited when the answer was yes. I was ordained almost 30 years ago.

There is much that has happened in my life since becoming a minister, and there is a whole lot more that has taken place in my consciousness by virtue of being of service. I am blessed with a life where I don’t have to work to make a living. This leaves me with significant time to do whatever I choose. I choose to volunteer. I am grateful that J-R knew I was “minister material” as there are innumerable blessings that have come my way through the years that I believe are a result of my being of service.

I’ve come to realize that my ministry is not so much about what I do or how much I do when I volunteer; it is more about the time I spend in a consciousness of service. I am aware that beyond the job at hand, what I am actually “doing” is making myself available to the energy that I was connected to when I was ordained. I am using that connection not only to do the work, but to allow the Light to work with me and through me. My ministry is truly more about giving myself the opportunity to come present in my heart and express that through my service. It is about allowing myself to be sustained and nurtured in the Light and experience unconditional loving.

When being of service, I am transported to a safe place where I simply let myself be. It just happens. I get out of the way, and the more time I spend in service the more I get to effortlessly practice being present with myself. I have to say that the place of grace and ease I experience when I am of service is where I learned to connect with myself in a way I had not known before. It is a place from which I was able to build up a sense of self I didn’t know existed. It is how I learned of my self-worth and experienced accepting and loving myself with no expectations.

In challenging times I minister to myself by getting busy doing volunteer work. (Thankfully there is always something ready to get done!) Being of service is my refuge; the oasis I go to when I am in the middle of anything of a negative nature. I take a break from matters of the world and give myself the opportunity to let go of anything that no longer serves me. Time and time again, after being of service things are back into perspective, I’ve gained clarity about what to do and what not to do, and always, always I am back in my center to deal with what life has brought to me. As a result of being of service I am renewed and restored, the inner place of peace, loving, caring keeps on growing and expanding inside of me, and I grow and expand in my ability to hold the Light and minister to myself and others.

I have learned that acts of service are not to be qualified as big or small. I think we would probably be amazed if we knew the full impact of everyday practices like doing Spiritual Exercises, calling in the Light, sending and holding the Light, planting Light columns, praying and many more. I believe that because they can become second nature, we consider them as insignificant when they are, in fact, a powerful ministry we often “forget” to acknowledge as such.

I have been blessed to serve with people from whom I have received inspiration and loving support throughout the years. I thank each and every one of you, you know who you are. As long as God will have me, it will be my honor to continue to serve in any way I can. I am so grateful for the circumstances in my life that allow me to do what I love to do as a minister of the Light. Thank you.

Your dedication, commitment, willingness, and silent service is a joy and inspiration to behold.

You bring the very best of you to the Traveler’s work in order to make the teachings available around the world.

There is so much fun and excellence in all you do.

You are a true blessing in our lives, and we thank you for touching our hearts with your love and dedication.

Volunteer of the Year, Mate Kelber, Conference of the Sound Current, 2016

Read the complete NDH September / October 2016 Edition via ISSUU