Day 9- The One Who Serves

Perhaps it's the Norwegian blood within me.  (Alf Olsen was my grandfather on my mother's side!)  Maybe it has something to do with growing up and living in Minnesota for so many years.  Maybe it was the example of my parents. Maybe I actually paid attention in Sunday school when my teacher talked about humbly serving others.   But, for whatever reason, being recognized as someone great has never really been one of my goals.  I actually find it a bit uncomfortable when people want to give me special recognition for something.  I'm one of those that strives to do the best I can in what I do.  If I do that, whether or not  I'm recognized is not all that important to me.

Now, don't get me wrong.  Recognition is nice.  You can't help but feel good when someone recognizes the value in something you have done.  But, if it's not recognized, that's ok, too.

In today's lesson, the disciples argued over which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest.  Jesus took this opportunity to teach them a new, different, and better way.  It's called servant leadership. "Rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves." (Matt. 22:26) Jesus is the ultimate example of this, serving us by his death on the cross.

In the last couple weeks I had the opportunity to help serve lunch at the St. Vincent's soup kitchen downtown, and helped sort canned goods at the Utah food bank.  The jobs I did, taken alone, were really quite insignificant.  But, the jobs I did, as part of a larger team, did help make a difference for those we fed.  My efforts, along with the others I worked with, went largely unnoticed.  You don't do those kinds of things for recognition.    What matters is that you took time to help out in a small way.  In our congregation, there are countless ministries that happen by people willing to serve, with little recognition.  Thank you.  All those things make a difference.  We serve not for the recognition, but to further God's work and to share God's love in the  world.