Eastern Bluebird : The Definition of Service

This is an Eastern Bluebird. He looks intent. And beautiful. He’s both. And when the photo zooms in this way, there’s a tradeoff. We see more of the beauty - the detail, the clarity, the expression. But we lose a bit too - the context, the environment, the story. To add back some of that context: he’s in a field hunting. His nest is nearby. He’s looking for insects to bring back to his mate, to provide her with strength as she goes into the breeding season. Presumably these bugs also enhance his own attractiveness…. I tried not to approach overly closely. He was fearless, though, and seemed entirely nonplussed by my presence. As I say, he’s intent. And beautiful. Knowing what he’s doing adds immeasurably to the surface appearance.

The Hebrew word “Avodah” is an enormously rich tool with multiple meanings. This word is used in the Bible to describe the Hebrew slaves toiling in Egypt. Avodah can mean prayer or worship. Its meaning can be as simple as “work” or “vocation.” And there is a sublime interpretation, which reclaims the “servitude” in Egypt and instead speaks of devotion to HaShem and our community. All of these are valid interpretations, each one - though wildly different in detail - sharing the commonality of “service.” Avodah means to labor on behalf of another, sometimes horrifically - think the slaves in Egypt - sometimes beautifully - think the joyful way we serve God and those around us.

Evaluating work, our own or others’, how do we think of it? “Low status” jobs or those which pay poorly may offer unexcelled intrinsic satisfaction. Conversely, the person with the fancy title and robust earnings may find their work to be enervating and sterile. Avodah, a single word which incorporates meanings from slavery to most worshipful service, is no coincidence. The work we do - the service we offer - is defined by us, not others. It is ennobled by the way we do it and the underlying intention. Deprived of its context, the details of the Bluebird look beautiful, but only with the fuller story is his activity imbued with meaning. Avodah reminds us that the very same thing is true of our work and the opportunity we have to define ourselves.