Find Your Super
by Jersquall, HSM Podcast Editor
So I recently retired as a captain of the Home Community Volunteer program. It was time; like Captain Bridger leaving the seaQuest because the world around him had changed, so too has Home. Don’t get me wrong — it was a phenomenal ride for the last four years, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat — but at a certain point you just instinctively know that it’s time to move on from a specific role.
I figured I’d just quietly fade away. But then Norse went to the Sony forum and put a spotlight on me roughly the size of the Pacific Ocean. Which, while flattering to some extent, also made me a bit uncomfortable. I don’t do things for personal glory. Not to put too fine a point on it, but if you’re familiar with what I face in real life, I really don’t care about glory. I care about helping others, because ultimately it’s what we do for each other that matters. It’s the only thing the matters.
Here’s what blew me away, though: aside from the tremendous outpouring of good will from so many people — including some faces I hadn’t seen in ages — a larger question began to be discussed on that forum: what does it mean to actually serve the community?
I don’t have any font-of-truth answers for you. I can only suggest this: in a virtual world, no one knows you. You are free to be whomever you wish, and portray yourself any way you want to. And though this allows for a tremendous amount of creative expression, one universal truth remains: we are still people, no matter the masks we wear, and thus we appreciate it when someone else holds out a hand to us, offering help. Offering compassion. Offering friendship.
This video, then, is sort of a visual expression of that. If you can choose to be anything you want, then why not choose to be a community servant? There is a nobility in service, and it is ultimately its own reward. Carry that inside you, no matter what clothing you wear over it.
Dedicated to GlassWalls and Sophronia — for everything.
Choose to be what you want to be.
July 27th, 2012 by Jersquall | 7 comments
Jersquall is a retired Home Community Volunteer, co-founder of Club HOMEinformer, and podcast commentator for HomeStation Magazine. His views expressed in HSM are his own.
Very well put. I am not in that form of service and have considered it often, but I agree with you that our best and biggest legacy should be how we have served each other. Recently I changed the text on my gamer tag/ i.d. to read “Servant not Master” due to things in my private life. I have seen the greedy behave bad here, and I have seen the kind, and the kind never cease to amaze me. If everybody took the view of serving a little bit, if even to just give directions, this would be a place nobody would ever want to leave or critisize. It’s funny, I almost lost a friend once because I wanted to help a stranger, that person is long gone, and the thought that I helped a stranger, stayed longer and felt better in the long run. I love serving, and it’s just something that makes this whole place a whole lot better. Good write.
well put. i agree
Giving service to others is more gratifying than much of what we can do in this life, both virtual and real. It is why people lay their lives down without thought, like the three young men at the theater shooting, or the men and women in law enforcement or the military. It is the highest goal that anyone can reach for in life I think. This is why it makes us feel so good when we are able to help someone. It is how we are wired as human beings, the “God” spark that we carrying inside of us.
What we do in real life carries over to this virtual one we inhabit in Home. Who we really are can shine through in both good and bad ways because of the anonymity it gives us. Like you said so well Jersquall, chose what you want to be, but I might add choose right, because your choices in both real and virtual life have consequences.
Thanks for your life of service, and enjoy the extra free time while you can, I am sure another project will pop up before you know it and I have been told retirement is busier than working at times.
Good Work Jersquall, will miss yea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jdkaLCGM5k&feature=related
You are a leader among men Jer. What you advocate is sooo needed in this world and so rare.
Thank you
“IF by Rudyard Kipling” Was amazing Rif.
Thanks for that.
jersquall you did a great job as captain of the HCV’S and i’m behind you on your next project my friend may god bless you and keep you always .