Baba says, “Pay constant attention to first doing what you speak of. It is easy to say something, but it is much harder to do it.“

Even in the world, it is said: “Practice what you preach.” When someone tries to tell others what to do without practicing it themselves, people see right through it. Not just that, but the person speaking himself would lack the authority in their words. For example, it’s one thing to recite a recipe – you might even have a beautiful, well-stocked kitchen, the top-of-the-line cookware…everything and yet unless you’ve actually prepared the recipe yourself first, you will lack the authority to teach it to others no matter how well the set-up looks. You will lack those critical improvisations such as- “when you add ingredient x, it might stick to the pan. To prevent that, do this.. etc.” Those suggestions come only when I’ve actually done it myself. Then I explain it to others with confidence, am not afraid to take questions and am proud of what I’ve made.

Baba says, “The greatest authority is the authority of experience“. Once I’ve experienced something myself, no matter how much someone else might say it’s false, I stand by it because I’ve experienced it.

Just as with the recipe, even when I’m trying to offer someone a correction – be it my kids, students, teammates, service companions…whomever, God says, “Pay constant attention to first doing what you speak of.” If I myself don’t practice what I’m teaching others, then it won’t have the intended impact because it will lack the strength and authority of experience. “Souls are tired of listening to lectures; they’ve heard it since the Copper Age“, Baba explains. “What they crave is experience.” This is why, so often, we notice that people listen when we share our own personal experience. “It is easy to say something, but it is much harder to do it.“, Baba points out. They want to know if we faced the same obstacles they are facing right now, and how we overcame them. When people feel that authenticity, when they know beyond doubt that it has been done, they find the courage to also do it, to stand up once again and face the challenge.

Even if someone were to try the recipe I shared, when that ingredient sticks to the pan, they will say: “She didn’t mention this would happen! This recipe doesn’t really work…don’t think I want to follow her recipes anymore.” And so, while I might have been trying to serve with good intention, the result is disservice. Similarly, while I might offer a well-intentioned correction, if that person then sees that I don’t follow my own teaching, then they will feel disillusioned. This is why Baba always reminds me that people are more interested in my behavior, not in my words. If they hear me preaching big ideas but my behavior doesn’t reflect it, they leave; they don’t believe this can be God’s family or God’s school, and inadvertently, I would have done the greatest disservice of driving children away from their Father.

Just as a single drop of poison can make a whole bowl of nectar poisonous; similarly, no matter how much service you do, Baba cautions, one little mistake will finish that service. So, first of all, pay attention to yourself and you will then be said to be a true server.