I have been telling myself that I should post my thoughts to the Seva Cafe blog. It’s been three weeks now since the launch. Most importantly, I have been saying that I should thank each and every kind soul that has made this project a true “gift from the universe”, week in and week out. But I can’t.
A simple post cannot capture the outpouring of love, compassion, generosity, kindness, and selfless service that I have experienced at the Seva Cafe. It cannot capture the power of Seva, which as Nirali so eloquenty said in her SOS speech, makes ordinary people do extraordinary things.
I am an ordinary person being given an extraordinary opportunity to serve with love.
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The Seva Cafe exists because of people like Srini and Dustin, who jumped in during the moderate chaos of the Week 1 launch and got their hands dirty, washing dishes for hours and hours…
The Seva Cafe exists because of people like Laura, who touched all of us in Week 3 through a powerful act of kindness – showering a homeless woman with so much love, hope and compassion…I will never forget the stunning look of gratitude on the woman’s face as she was leaving…
The Seva Cafe exists because of Carolina, Marcella, and Gianna, who not only made the trip to India and volunteered at the original Seva Cafe, but were an integral part (& continue to be) of the experiment here…
The Seva Cafe exists because of the folks at CharityFocus, who drove all the way down from the Bay Area to be with us for the launch and embrace us as part of the Seva family…
The Seva Cafe exists because of Manuri and Raju, who made most of the posters, buttons, and logos in time for our launch and then so seamlessly integrated themselves into unconditionally serving in the coming weeks…
The Seva Cafe exists because of Rajeev, owner of the Royal Cup, who has given us all the opportunity to serve..with love.
and most appropriately,
The Seva Cafe exists because of Sukh, an inspiration to all who have been in contact with him to embrace life and to live it by unconditionally serving others.
Elizabeth, Sudi, Angela, Shwetha, Nimo..the list goes on and on…to all Seva Cafe volunteers, thank you for giving.
And finally, thank you Manav Sadhna for your inspiring acts of compassion and for launching the original Seva Cafe. We may all never realize the true impact Seva Cafe has had and will continue to have on our brothers, sisters, family, friends, neighbors, and complete strangers.
In the spirit of service,
Srikanth
