It's natural to care deeply about community. Real love for family extends to neighbors—and overflows for the whole of society. This occasional column tells of how a spiritual perspective has been helping Sentinel readers help others and make a contribution to healing some of the collective challenges facing communities today.

When I was in college, one Christmas my dorm was invited to give a musical program at a local nursing home. The residents seemed to enjoy the program, but I came away deeply disturbed by the outward pictures of incapacity, frailty, and confinement.

After college, I became interested in Christian Science and began to pray consistently to gain a more spiritual view of life— man defined by his loving Father-Mother God, wholly spiritual in His image and likeness, rather than defined by physicality, the physical senses, or mortality.

About a year ago I had lunch with a friend who works for our local "meals on wheels" senior food program. It prepares and delivers meals to seniors and others who could use help with meals. I had been praying for opportunities to be of greater service to my community, and I found myself volunteering to be a driver for the program one day a week.

On my first day, I simply dropped off the meals quickly and left! Soon, though, I began to nourish my thought with prayer before starting out, and it wasn't long before I began to see through outward appearances to the multitude of Godlike qualities being actively expressed—qualities such as moral courage, dignity, wit and humor, graciousness, patience, purpose, steadfastness, and wisdom. I began to look forward to these weekly visits with my older friends. Beyond simply bringing a meal, I became conscious of bringing encouragement, compassion, joy, and love—spiritual sustenance, nourishing and feeding all of us. Such acts of kindness as tidying up a table, fixing a beverage, threading a needle, or giving a hug became natural extras.

Now included on these weekly trips are two older ladies who just enjoy getting out a bit for the ride. Often these simple kindnesses mean so much.

I now have a totally different view of advancing years to replace the superficial, outward view that was with me for so long. It's one that affords me much joy, because it's one of unending worth, dignity, respect, and purpose. That's something we can all look forward to!

The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ... The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. ... Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalms 37:11, 18, 37