DINING IN DIGNITY

We're proponents of Servant Leadership and believe ALL human beings are equal in dignity and respect. The phrase "beggars can't be choosers" isn't part of our thinking process; in fact, to us, its inconceivable how it could be part of anyone's. And we certainly don't think it should be part of those who are served or serve at soup kitchens, mission or shelters either.

Dining in Dignity was conceived through a discussion my sister, mother and I were having one recent breezy afternoon. We were throwing business ideas around and one particular one was focused on the food industry. Well, as entrepreneurs, we're always trying to intertwine business with helping people. We're definitely not ones to just do work for the sake of earning of living; we always predicate it on giving back in some way and putting purpose and meaning in whatever we do. One thing led to another and soon we were talking about human dignity and hunger in America.

I recalled the story about spending my Thanksgiving at the rescue mission in downtown Nashville, when I was 21. This was one of my first real experiences "volunteering" and I did it for several reasons; and being a servant was one of the last reasons, if a reason at all. It felt "good" watching others bring their children and give their time on this special family holiday. It was also alone the first time I was alone on this day and wanted to be around people and do something "worthy".

Much of that day, and what stains my heart the most, was the indifference of my own heart. I did feel that "beggars can't be choosers" and "they were lucky to get whatever they received." Specifically, you can say a blueberry pie changed my life. You see, I was in charge of serving the blueberry pie for dessert - cutting it up and placing it on plates. I remember opening the boxes, smelling the berries and sugar and thinking these were very nice pies. I started to slice the pies and things quickly started to get backed up because there were lots of people to feed. Well, to maintain my own dignity and assure the others I could keep up, my slicing became sloppy and choppy; and soon the pie slices looked more like scoops of ice cream thrown on a plate. I served those slices of pie, the holiday dessert of my fellow brothers and sisters, in a completely undignified manner. And, in my mind, I justified it by saying over and over "they're lucky to even get this". I am ashamed and, in the end, all I did was break my own heart.

Sharing that story with my mother and sister made me realize how time goes so quickly and how a moment in time can leave an indelible mark on your life . . . forever; changing one as a human being in some way. I'm 41 now and doing this lens.

We are equally as passionate about the mission of Dining in Dignity and each of us has our own personal reason or moment that helped change our perspective too. We know the need is growing, the need is great and the need is far reaching. Together, we're committed to making a difference and making this work.

elena, elizabeth & linda

Like the moon her kindness is,
If kindness I may call
What has no comprehension in't,
But is the same for all
As though my sorrow were a scene
Upon a painted wall.

So like a bit of stone I lie
Under a broken tree.
I could recover if I shrieked
My heart's agony
To passing bird, but I am dumb
From human dignity.

William Butler Yeats

On September 10, 1946, Teresa experienced what she later described as "the call within the call" while traveling to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling from Calcutta for her annual retreat. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith."[19] She began her missionary work with the poor in 1948, replacing her traditional Loreto habit with a simple white cotton sari decorated with a blue border, adopted Indian citizenship, and ventured out into the slums.[20][21] Initially she started a school in Motijhil; soon she started tending to the needs of the destitute and starving.[22] Her efforts quickly caught the attention of Indian officials, including the Prime Minister, who expressed his appreciation.[23]

Teresa wrote in her diary that her first year was fraught with difficulties. She had no income and had to resort to begging for food and supplies. Teresa experienced doubt, loneliness and the temptation to return to the comfort of convent life during these early months. She wrote in her diary:

" Our Lord wants me to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross. Today I learned a good lesson. The poverty of the poor must be so hard for them. While looking for a home I walked and walked till my arms and legs ached. I thought how much they must ache in body and soul, looking for a home, food and health. Then the comfort of Loreto [her former order] came to tempt me. 'You have only to say the word and all that will be yours again,' the Tempter kept on saying ... Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come.[24]

The servant-leader is servant first . . . It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions. The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people's highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?

VolunteerMatch.org is a great site to search for wonderful volunteer opportunities in your local area. Whatever your passion or the type of volunteering you prefer, this is the place!