Devos. Every CAP volunteer knows them well. Those short little segments following dinner during which someone, often the cook of the meal still being digested, shares a bit of wisdom which they prepared days in advance.

Well, maybe. I know for a fact some people put a lot of thought into their devos, but then there are those (I’m not saying I’m not one of them) who completely forget to prepare a devo until five minutes before dinner time.

Devos are, of course, a requirement in CAP volunteer houses because they constitute the contemplative aspect of CAP’s three core values: community, service, and spirituality. Too often, however, I hop up during the awkward silence between the Amen and the Remainder of the Evening without stopping to consider the purpose of the activity.

Upon later consideration, it becomes clear. Devotions are not something we do for ourselves, though they certainly benefit us. Devos give us the opportunity to express our devotion to our Father. Devotions are for God. Devotion is love. It is submission. It is wanting to want Him, longing to long for Him, refocusing to focus on Him.

Whatever form after dinner devos take, their purpose is clear: not to make us feel warm and cozy, but to challenge us to see God in a new way. Herein lies my favorite part: were I not living in community, had I not been placed with these people, if I were to skip devo, I would not be the same. My absence from the family circle would leave me without the spiritual insight gained from just a short reflection or reading or song or whatever. Growth happens in a plethora of ways; we just have to be there to experience it.

Seth Willard is a long-term volunteer in CAP's Elderly Services program. He lives and devotes in Jackson Volunteer House.