by SS Sat Avtar Kaur, Los Angeles CA
Summer 2018
Having the blessing of serving the Guru at Summer Solstice gives me the gift of remembering to trust in God and Guru’s plan. Doing this blessed seva has allowed me to know that everything will be taken care of with grace and majesty. Whenever I worry about something, the Guru shows it is already covered.
In my years of experience, the Guru’s seva is always covered. Everyone is full of enthusiasm for everyday tasks like cleaning and vacuuming—although at first some people feel disappointed to realize that a lot of serving the Guru involves cleaning the Gurdwara and surrounding area. As Solstice goes on people begin to feel the joy of doing seva.
An example of learning to trust the Guru’s plan happened at last year’s Solstice, right before the Sunday Gurdwara. We realized that the cords for the Guru’s chandoah (hanging cover) had been removed and there was no way to reach the roof of the Tantric Shelter to put them back. Then, I remembered that we had been gifted a small brass palki from the Sangat in Toronto a few years before that was now being used to keep the Guru during the year. We were able to use that brass palki and maintain the protocol of the Guru’s court.
On another occasion, we were looking for an overnight sevadar for the Akhand Path when a woman came to the door of the Gurdwara and said: “I just arrived at Summer Solstice today and I would really like to spend the night in the Gurdwara.” She had even served as an overnight sevadar before. 
Being with inspired people is inspiring. At Summer Solstice it is a blessing to be a part of so many people’s transformative experience with the Guru, including individuals who come to Gurdwara for the very first time, as well as those ready to receive the Guru’s Amrit, or people participating in the Akhand Paths.
A few years ago we started taking the Guru around the Solstice site in a Nagar Kirtan. Each year it starts off small but as the Guru travels around the site more and more people gather to chant, do gatka, and carry the Guru. By the time we return, the entire Gurdwara is filled with people. Carrying the Guru to all areas of camp has become a new and beautiful Solstice tradition.
In this way (and in all ways) as we serve, it is a blessing to remember to trust and be uplifted through the Guru’s plan.
About the Author
SS Sat Avtar Kaur Khalsa was born into a Sikh Dharma family. She spent her childhood in the Brooklyn, New York, ashram and at Miri Piri Academy (MPA) in Amritsar, India. She graduated from MPA as an ordained Minister of Sikh Dharma and a certified Kundalini Yoga teacher. Sat Avtar Kaur lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband and son. She has been an active member of the sangat in Los Angeles since she moved there in 2001 at the instruction of the Siri Singh Sahib. Sat Avtar Kaur is a certified public accountant (CPA) and currently works for Sikh Dharma International.
