Who is a volunteer? A volunteer is someone who comes to help without being asked. Someone who is self-motivated and inspired becomes a volunteer.
It is possible for a volunteer’s inspirational motivation to diminish, which can bring frustration. Usually a volunteer’s attitude comes from demand rather than humility, and this dilutes the quality of the service.
Another downfall for volunteers is that they slip away from commitment, thinking there is no “boss,” thinking, “If I like it, I’ll do it; if I don’t like it, I won’t do it!” It is like the steering wheel of a car – if all the tires say they do not need to be steered, then the car cannot move forward. If you want to construct a building, you have to accept the authority of the structural engineer, the “boss.”
All these problems can be overcome only by being more grounded in spiritual knowledge. A volunteer devoid of spirituality is utterly weak.
The following guidelines are essential to be a true volunteer:
- A volunteer needs to remain faithful to his commitment.
- The integrity of a volunteer comes from his spiritual practices. A volunteer must accept the leader of the project.
- The strength of a volunteer is based on the challenges he is ready and willing to face.
- A volunteer moves beyond boundaries when he finds he is capable of doing so much more than he ever thought of doing.
- A true volunteer does not expect appreciation or reward and he who thinks he is obliging someone is thoroughly mistaken.
A person volunteers because he derives joy from it. That joy itself is the reward, and it is immediate. It does not come on the first of every month in the form of a salary. When a volunteer realizes this, he is filled with gratitude. When a volunteer waivers from within, his support is knowledge and good friends.
