A Life of Service From a Teenage Perspective

by Global Patriot on February 27, 2009

The construct of social media is changing the world at large, allowing people to connect and express themselves in entirely new ways. From a personal perspective, I’ve met thousands of new people through Global Patriot, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even StumbleUpon. Each person, in their own unique way, has enriched my life and altered my way of thinking.

One such individual is Bud Hennekes. I encounter so many people on a daily basis that I don’t recall how I came across his blog A Boundless World, but it was probably through Twitter, as we connected in December and I do remember reading his post on How to Develop a Mission Statement that month. I was impressed with his style and sense of awareness, and that feeling continued with his post on How to Forgive Anyone in January and on The ABCs of Personal Growth in February. Based on those articles I asked Bud to write a guest post for Global Patriot on the topic of service, emphasizing our need to serve others while also serving the best interests of the planet.

A Bit About Bud Hennekes

Bud was born in California, lived in Louisiana for a bit, then 12 months in Clear Lake, Texas before moving to Holland for 3 years. From there he spent his adolescence in The Woodlands of Texas near Houston, and has lived in Shanghai for the past two years – an interesting journey for a 17 year old. I hope you enjoy what Bud has to say about the essence of service, and his own path to embracing it.

Bud Hennekes Family

A Life of Service – by Bud Hennekes

If you were to look up service in the dictionary it would state: “the action of helping or doing work for someone.” Yet I don’t think that definition goes far enough. To me service is something more. Service is the soul of life. Without service we cannot truly live.

Albert Einstein once said, “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”

Only through service can we truly live to our fullest potential.

What does it take to truly live?

The answer? – You must serve.

But what does it mean to serve, and how can we incorporate service into our already busy lives?

Luckily, there is no one right way to serve. In fact, there are an unlimited number of ways in which we can serve. We can serve by listening. We can serve by growing. We can serve by awakening people to their fullest potential. We can serve by understanding. We can serve by being loving human beings. We can serve by providing the basic necessities of life to those less fortunate than ourselves; giving food, shelter, and love to all those who need it.

To serve is to give.

Give. Give. Give.

When you are truly immersed in service your ego turns off, and when your ego turns off you begin to live and love. It’s unfortunate that so many people never learn to serve, for then their ego remains the centerpiece of their life, which in turn creates a life that will forever be unfulfilled.

For most of my life my purpose was to merely “survive.” I wasn’t much of a risk taker. I merely existed. I had a great life by all means. I ran cross country. I had some wonderful friends. But at the end of the day I remained asleep. Asleep with my soul dying to be heard.

Then I moved to Shanghai and experienced things that would change me forever. I was introduced to a whole new global perspective that was alien to me at the time. I slowly learned that I could make a difference. That I could change the world. In no way am I perfect, but just knowing that I matter has profoundly changed me in so many positive ways.

Going through the motions is no longer appealing to me…in fact the thought almost makes me sick. I am no longer satisfied with just being ok. I now strive for excellence. One of my favorite quotes is by Steve Prefontaine, “To give anything less is to sacrifice the gift.”

That’s what the majority of the world does, they sacrifice their gift. The sad thing is we shouldn’t. We can live the life of our dreams simply by learning to give. We must stop looking to our ego for guidance and instead look to our soul, because when our soul speaks the world listens.

I know it’s sometimes hard to comprehend that one person out of the near 7 billion on the planet can make a profound difference, but the reality of it is YOU truly can.

Starfish on the Beach

I am going to paraphrase one of my favorite stories of all time.

Once there was a rich business man walking on the beach. Because of the season there was an abnormal amount of starfish on the beach.

There were starfish as far as you could see.

While walking the business man noticed a small boy on the beach picking up starfish one at a time and throwing them back into the ocean.

This astonished the business man.

He approached the boy and said, “Little boy, there is no point in wasting your time. There are starfish for miles, you won’t make a difference.”

The little boy looked the business man in the eye, smiled, then picked up yet another starfish and threw him into the ocean.

The boy then replied, “To that one I did.”

For much of my life I turned away from service, because I was afraid, afraid of living to my fullest potential. I slowly began to realize that unless I began to serve a void would remain in my heart.

I hope to continue expanding my consciousness by giving more value to the world than I take away. I hope to awaken people to the potential that lies within them. I hope to love as much as humanly possible. I hope to leave a lasting impact on all whom I come in contact with. I hope to express gratitude in every act I do. I hope to live, learn and grow.

But most importantly I hope to serve humanity.

For as Marian Wright Edelman said, “Service is what life is all about.”

Are you leading a life of service, if not, why not?

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{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }

Joyce McKenzie April 13, 2009 at 9:44 am

I was searching for information on the Topic ‘A life of Service’, for my Bible study when I came upon Bud’s piece. First I must say how impressed I was with all he had to say, and further that it was coming from the experiences of a teenager. It contained so many useful quotes that I decided to use his story as a point of departure for our Bible study. I’m confident that each person in the group will find something useful and inspiring to hold on to and to help him/her live a life of service, for indeed to truly live, one must serve.

Reply

Global Patriot May 14, 2009 at 8:36 am

I too found Bud’s writing to be very insightful, and his youth only serves as a testament to the fact that the next generation is growing up with a new found sense of responsibility – something this planet needs in a big way!

Reply

Joyce McKenzie April 13, 2009 at 5:44 pm

I was searching for information on the Topic ‘A life of Service’, for my Bible study when I came upon Bud’s piece. First I must say how impressed I was with all he had to say, and further that it was coming from the experiences of a teenager. It contained so many useful quotes that I decided to use his story as a point of departure for our Bible study. I’m confident that each person in the group will find something useful and inspiring to hold on to and to help him/her live a life of service, for indeed to truly live, one must serve.

Reply

GlobalPatriot May 14, 2009 at 4:36 pm

I too found Bud’s writing to be very insightful, and his youth only serves as a testament to the fact that the next generation is growing up with a new found sense of responsibility – something this planet needs in a big way!

Reply

Lori March 14, 2009 at 12:35 pm

Hello,

In constructive developmental theory, only 5% of the adult population ever reaches the 3rd adult state (highest state) which is that of being truly altruistic …sounds like you are on track:)

Reply

Global Patriot March 15, 2009 at 9:47 pm

Bud has definitely shown that he understands the essence of life at a young age. I’ll be interested in following him over the years.

Reply

Lori March 14, 2009 at 8:35 pm

Hello,

In constructive developmental theory, only 5% of the adult population ever reaches the 3rd adult state (highest state) which is that of being truly altruistic …sounds like you are on track:)

Reply

GlobalPatriot March 16, 2009 at 4:47 am

Bud has definitely shown that he understands the essence of life at a young age. I’ll be interested in following him over the years.

Reply

Giovanna Garcia March 12, 2009 at 11:06 pm

I am very glad I happen to come by and read this blog post. Great job Bud. If we all serve in what ever ways we can serve, we will all be happier and more fullfilled. Be the change you want in the world. Close your eyes and envision the world you would like to live in, that would help you find how or where you want to serve. Get started we can all make a difference.
Thank you,
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action

Reply

Giovanna Garcia March 13, 2009 at 7:06 am

I am very glad I happen to come by and read this blog post. Great job Bud. If we all serve in what ever ways we can serve, we will all be happier and more fullfilled. Be the change you want in the world. Close your eyes and envision the world you would like to live in, that would help you find how or where you want to serve. Get started we can all make a difference.
Thank you,
Giovanna Garcia
Imperfect Action is better than No Action

Reply

Dirtykitchensecrets March 12, 2009 at 4:02 am

This piece gave me goosbumps… “We must stop looking to our ego for guidance and instead look to our soul, because when our soul speaks the world listens.” You consciousness is inspiring and I wish you all the sucess in spreading it x

Reply

Dirtykitchensecrets March 12, 2009 at 12:02 pm

This piece gave me goosbumps… “We must stop looking to our ego for guidance and instead look to our soul, because when our soul speaks the world listens.” You consciousness is inspiring and I wish you all the sucess in spreading it x

Reply

SINgleGIRL March 9, 2009 at 4:59 pm

I feel better having read this. Hopeful. It’s not often I feel that way after reading blogposts.

Reply

SINgleGIRL March 10, 2009 at 12:59 am

I feel better having read this. Hopeful. It’s not often I feel that way after reading blogposts.

Reply

Katie Skow March 3, 2009 at 1:03 am

You’re way ahead of the game! And way ahead of most grandparents…

:-)

Reply

Katie Skow March 2, 2009 at 5:03 pm

You’re way ahead of the game! And way ahead of most grandparents…

:-)

Reply

Katie Skow March 2, 2009 at 3:52 pm

Now there is someone who has life figured out at a young age. Keep up the service and great writing!

Reply

Bud Hennekes March 2, 2009 at 3:03 pm

Life figured out? Me? No way…

:)

Reply

Bud Hennekes March 2, 2009 at 11:03 pm

Life figured out? Me? No way…

:)

Reply

Katie Skow March 2, 2009 at 7:52 am

Now there is someone who has life figured out at a young age. Keep up the service and great writing!

Reply

Miguel de Luis March 1, 2009 at 4:22 pm

Hi Bud, a great post

I’d like to add, a great way to be a saint is not so much about doing new things, but doing them all with great love, if I may borrow a thought from Mother Teresa. We tend to focus on quantity, doing more things, you are focusing on quality, doing it better.

Well done :)

Reply

Miguel de Luis March 1, 2009 at 8:22 am

Hi Bud, a great post

I’d like to add, a great way to be a saint is not so much about doing new things, but doing them all with great love, if I may borrow a thought from Mother Teresa. We tend to focus on quantity, doing more things, you are focusing on quality, doing it better.

Well done :)

Reply

dianac March 1, 2009 at 2:40 am

I am in awe at the insight you display given your youth. I LOVE what you wrote and hope you get a huge audience of people who will take something that will enhance theirs and the lives of those they come in contact with.

A beautiful and thoughtful piece, thankyou

Reply

Jinon February 28, 2009 at 8:08 pm

Bud’s writings are always inspiring, thoughtful, and truthful. Thanks for posting Global Patriot! :)

Reply

Jinon March 1, 2009 at 4:08 am

Bud’s writings are always inspiring, thoughtful, and truthful. Thanks for posting Global Patriot! :)

Reply

Fernanda February 28, 2009 at 6:52 pm

“When you are truly immersed in service your ego turns off, and when your ego turns off you begin to live and love.”

I love that quote.
great post =D

Reply

Fernanda March 1, 2009 at 2:52 am

“When you are truly immersed in service your ego turns off, and when your ego turns off you begin to live and love.”

I love that quote.
great post =D

Reply

dianac February 28, 2009 at 6:40 pm

I am in awe at the insight you display given your youth. I LOVE what you wrote and hope you get a huge audience of people who will take something that will enhance theirs and the lives of those they come in contact with.

A beautiful and thoughtful piece, thankyou

Reply

adam mclane February 28, 2009 at 9:13 am

“I hope to continue expanding my consciousness by giving more value to the world than I take away.”

That’s a great quote right there. If we all had that perspective the world would be a much better place.

Great piece.

Reply

adam mclane February 28, 2009 at 5:13 pm

“I hope to continue expanding my consciousness by giving more value to the world than I take away.”

That’s a great quote right there. If we all had that perspective the world would be a much better place.

Great piece.

Reply

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