[00:00:00] Scott DeLuzio: Thanks for tuning into the Drive On Podcast where we’re focused on giving hope and strength to the entire military community. Whether you’re a veteran active duty guard reserve or family member, this podcast will share inspirational stories and resources that are useful to you. I’m your host, Scott Lucio.

[00:00:18] Scott DeLuzio: And now let’s get on with the show.

[00:00:21] Scott DeLuzio: Most people believe that serving others is a nice thing to do, but it doesn’t really make much of a difference today. My guest David crocker is going to talk about how serving others, not only makes our communities better places to live in, but also helps us get a handle on our own mental health and our own wellbeing.

[00:00:49] Scott DeLuzio: So welcome to the show, David, I’m glad to have

[00:00:51] David Crocker: you on.

[00:00:55] Scott DeLuzio: For the listeners who might not be familiar with you would you be able to tell us a little bit about yourself and your [00:01:00] background?

[00:01:01] David Crocker: Sure. Scott, I was a minister, a pastor of churches for about 30 years. And about half of that time, the latter half focused on serving others. Didn’t, wasn’t really aware at that time, the direction that would go in my life.

[00:01:17] David Crocker: But 15 years ago, really after I left the past. I started a nonprofit it’s called operation in as much. You’ll appreciate the fact that the first word operation was taken from they started in a military community. They able to North Carolina. And so as you know, a lot of your listeners know everything is called operation, this, that, or the other in the military.

[00:01:39] David Crocker: So that’s why we named it. And in as much comes from the Bible verse, Matthew 25 40 in as much as you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me. And so basically it’s a model to get people out in the community church folk in particular, but others to to care for people in need. [00:02:00] So about 15 years ago, I left the ministry, so to speak and founded that nonprofit.

[00:02:08] David Crocker: And have been working in that ever since I’m on a kind of semi-retired basis right now. But as a result of that I have the focus of my last 20 years really has been helping people to find their place of service, a meaningful one to experience the joy of serving and certainly to help other people and encourage them as they can.

[00:02:31] David Crocker: So that’s the short version, I guess, of the.

[00:02:35] Scott DeLuzio: Yeah. And you’re also an army veteran. I wanted to throw that in as well, just to make sure that the listeners know who we’re talking to here. So, on this show, we talked to a lot of military veterans who they’re trying to find themselves after coming back into civilian life, after leaving the service.

[00:02:55] Scott DeLuzio: And sometimes they feel like they’re. [00:03:00] Kind of lost. Like they don’t know what that next step is. And a lot of them I think, could benefit from the, maybe let’s call it therapeutic effects of serving others. So what are some of the benefits that you’ve found over your career? All these years of giving back and serving other people?

[00:03:23] David Crocker: So, let me just start by saying that the writing of the book that has recently been released, compassion areas, unle...