There's a song we often sang on Wednesday night church with the kids.....
Make me a servant,
Humble and meek,
Lord help me lift up,
Those who are weak
And may the prayer of my heart always be,
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant today.
From my own experience, it really changes my attitude when I remember that I'm called to be a servant to those around me. It defeats the griping attitude I find myself in more often than I'd like.
I took an odd route to be reminded today, starting with this Varifrank post that I'm sure everyone and their brother has already read, considering the huge number of trackbacks and the Instapundit link. Frank finds himself in a meeting with European work associates who denigrate President Bush for sending an aircraft carrier to help with tsunami relief. He and his Hindi friend, who lost family in the disaster, do what we often wish we had done when a situation like this arises. They confront the attitude head on, even though it might be seen as "Unprofessional". So, if you missed it, go now. It's the proverbial "Must Read".
Frank ends the story with the following:
Later in the breakroom, one of the laughing Euros caught me and extended his hand in an apology. I asked him where he was from, he said "a town outside of Berlin". He is a young man, in his early 20's.
I asked him if he knew of a man named Gail Halvorsen.
He said no.
I said "that's a shame" and walked away to find my Hindi friend.
I didn't recognize the name Gail Halvorsen and followed Frank's link to find an interview with him, known as the "Candy Bomber" for dropping candy attached to small parachutes to the kids in Berlin during the Berlin airlift. Near the end of the interview Gail shares the following:
In closing, the airlift reminded me that the only way to fulfillment in life, real fulfillment, is to serve others. I was taught that as a youth in my church, and I found when I flew day and night to serve a former enemy that my feelings of fulfillment and being worthwhile were the strongest that I've felt. Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for a friend. I saw 31 of my airlift comrades lay down their lives in service of a former enemy who had become a friend. Serving others and giving of ourselves is the only way to real fulfillment. Not 2,000 square feet more than we need in the house, or an extra car that we don't need. Service, as the airlift reminded me, is what it's all about. I have that feeling when I go back to Berlin and have the people express their gratitude 50 years later for the service given them by former enemies.
It's easy to get caught up in the details of our lives and miss the big picture. I'm thankful when reminded of the things that really are important. Feel free to hum along.
Make me a servant....
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