Well, friends and strangers, it’s been a while. I just haven’t gotten around to blogging.
In chapel we have been going through different spiritual disciplines. Today we discussed service as a discipline. When we serve, we place ourselves below others and we are blessed. In John 13, Jesus, Lord of all washes his disciples feet. When we put ourselves above others, it is a lie because our only worth is found in being children of God, and if others are children of God, how can we be better than them? Jesus, the only man with any and all of the right to place himself above others, washed his disciples feet! And not only did he wash their feet, but he came down from heaven and immersed himself in sin.
I find it a bit hard to hear this in the context of the academic community of college. We are here to get a degree, ultimately to move up in the world. But I guess that really isn’t the purpose. Yes, we are getting degrees, but it is still so much more important to be a part of the community, become who God wants us to be, and love others as ourselves (which means wanting for others what we want for ourselves). I believe we can use our intellect to serve others and the knowledge we attain through getting a degree is not to move us up in the world, but to make us responsible citizens…if we use it correctly.
Also, a common question we ask (and I’ve asked it a lot this semester) is, “Lord, when we look around and see how many needs there are and we try and try to fill them our whole lives and give up everything, how will we have enough to help ourselves?” Pastor Bart reminded us that when we ask that, God’s answer is, “I AM.” God is there to fill all our needs in ways that we cannot even imagine. I have a feeling this will be a lifelong journey (it has been so far), but this was a good reminder to move out of my self-centered world. Will you come with me?
